WILFRIED ZAHA remains Chelsea’s top transfer target – but will not pay the 80million asking price, according to reports.
Crystal Palace are determined to keep hold of their star man unless their lofty valuation is met.
According to the Express, Chelsea are still very interested in landing the attacker and are keeping tabs on him.
Zaha, 27, has been linked with a move away from Selhurst Park in recent seasons.
After struggling during his stint at Manchester United, he developed into one of the most dangerous attacking players in the Premier League.
Arsenal tried to sign him in the summer – but bid just half of the fee Crystal Palace wanted – while Chelsea have been long-term admirers.
Reports also suggest that Zaha is intent on quitting his boyhood club this month to join an elite club who will be challenging for silverware.
Wingers Pedro and Willian are both into the final six months of their contracts, which could leave just inexperienced duo Callum Hudson-Odoi and Christian Pulisic as the two recognised wide men in Frank Lampard’s squad.
But the Blues are refusing to pay over the odds for the Ivory Coast international, who has 56 goals and 68 assists across his 345 Eagles appearances.
Lampard is free to spend in the transfer market for the first time since taking over at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea were slapped with a transfer ban by Fifa which prevented them signing any new players in the summer.
But this was lifted ahead of the January window – and now boss Lampard is understood to have 150m at his disposal.
He – alongside his transfer guru group comprising of Marina Granovskaia, Petr Cech and Scott McLachlan – will want to make sure they get the right players in.
Despite being linked with a number of wingers, it is a striker that is Chelsea’s top priority this month.
Tammy Abraham is enjoying a fine debut season as the first-choice striker at Stamford Bridge but Olivier Giroud could be on his way out of the club with plenty of interested clubs both in England and abroad.
The Blues’ interest in Jadon Sancho has cooled for this month while RB Leipzig Timo Werner also looks set to stay in the Bundesliga until the end of the season.
Moussa Dembele remains on Chelsea’s radar and the club could offer Giroud and 40m to convince Lyon to sell their 23-year-old striker.
Inter Milan striker Gabriel Barbosa, meanwhile, is another player who is rumoured to be on Chelsea’s wish list.
