Wilfried Zaha currently plays on loan at Lyon
Wilfried Zaha currently plays on loan at Lyon
Wilfried Zaha has emerged as a target of Major League Soccer as red tape all but blocks a move to the Premier League.
The ex-Crystal Palace talisman was in attendance at Selhurst Park last week for the Eagles' clash against Arsenal. That prompted speculation over a possible return to south London next month, following interest from his former team in signing the 32-year-old on loan during the summer window.
After leaving Palace at the end of his contract and eventually joining Galatasaray, Zaha moved on loan to Lyon for in his second season with the Turkish giants. The winger has been in and out of the Ligue 1 side's squad and featured for just 112 minutes.
Understandable another move is being pondered but FIFA rules provide additional difficulty. Players are permitted to register with three clubs over a season but allowed to only feature for two, which Zaha has already done.
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"Players may be registered with a maximum of three clubs during one season. During this period, a player is only eligible to play official matches for two clubs," reads section of 5.4 of FIFA rules.
However, a caveat means that sides from the MLS, credited with interest in securing a deal for Zaha by Mail Online, can still act. Players are allowed to play for third side during a season if they move between clubs with overlapping domestic calendars, rather than concurrent ones.
Rule 5.4 adds: "As an exception to this rule, a player moving between two clubs belonging to associations with overlapping seasons (i.e. start of the season in summer/autumn as opposed to winter/spring) may be eligible to play in official matches for a third club during the relevant season, provided they have fully complied with their contractual obligations towards their previous clubs, and provided that the provisions relating to registration periods and the minimum length of a contract are respected."
Wilfried Zaha
Wilfried Zaha celebrates scoring his first goal for Galatasaray
It is not believed Galatasaray would stand in Zaha's way should he be tempted by a transfer to the United States. Though a deal would need to be agreed over his £3.75million annual salary.
Last summer Palace chairman Steve Parish suggested he would welcome Zaha back to the Eagles with open arms. He told talkSPORT: "I'd have Wilf Zaha back in a heartbeat. He's part of our club, part of our history.
"There's a few people that can lay claim at the heart of the resurgence of this club and Wilfried is very much one of them. We stayed in the division [Premier League] sometimes by the force of his will, so, of course, we would.
"Unfortunately, that doesn't look like it's going to be possible this summer for various reasons and we continue to wish him all the best out there. I'm in contact with him every now and again. I am glad he had a good season last season and he fulfilled his dreams. He played in the Champions League, so it's a great story for him but of course if he was available we would be interested."
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