Yalla Shoot :Wilfried Zaha set to join Galatasaray on free transfer after leaving Crystal Palace | Galatasaray

Wilfried Zaha is close to joining Turkish champions Galatasaray on a free transfer after leaving Crystal Palace.

The winger has had numerous options over the summer after spending eight seasons at Selhurst Park in a second spell at the club where he started his career but has opted to move to Galatasaray on a three-year deal with the prospect of playing in the Champions League an enticing one for the Ivory Coast international.

Galatasaray won the Super Lig for the first time in four years last season and will enter the Champions League in the third qualifying round next month, so will need to win two ties to reach the group stages of the competition.

Although the deal is not yet completed, there is confidence in Turkey that Galatasaray have got their man, despite interest from a number of clubs and the offer of staying at Crystal Palace. Lazio, Fenerbahce and Al-Nassr all made attempts to sign Zaha, while Palace had offered him £200,000 a week to extend his time at Selhurst Park by a further four years. It is understood his wages at Galatasaray will be lower than what he would have earned in the Premier League or Saudi Arabia.

Zaha returned to Crystal Palace permanently in 2015 after a loan spell from Manchester United. He had originally come up through the club’s academy but was sold to United in 2013 but struggled to make an impact at Old Trafford and returned to south London where he has been a key reason behind Palace maintaining their Premier League status ever since.