Steven Gerrard holds talks with Wilfried Zaha over £16m-per-season Saudi move… but the deal is set to collapse amid anger the Crystal Palace star is ‘holding Al-Ettifaq to ransom’
- Al-Ettifaq manager Steven Gerrard held constructive talks with Wilfried Zaha, 30
- Despite the £16m-per-season offer there are claims that Zaha wants more money
- The deal is on the brink of collapse due to anger from Saudi Arabian officials
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Steven Gerrard has held face-to-face talks with Wilfried Zaha over a proposed £16million-per-season, after tax, move to Al Ettifaq.
However, the deal is on the brink of collapse due to anger from Saudi officials working on behalf of Al-Ettifaq amid claims Zaha’s advisors are trying to negotiate more money from the deal.
In a development that could play into Crystal Palace‘s hands as they look to persuade their iconic figure to stay at Selhurst Park, Mail Sport has learned that Saudi officials have told Zaha’s representatives that they are unwilling to increase their offer and will only proceed if they agree on the original deal.
Gerrard, who was appointed Al-Ettifaq head coach last week, had pinpointed Zaha as a priority signing ahead of the new season.
Indeed, Zaha and Gerrard – who also wants to sign Jordan Henderson – held a video conference call on Wednesday, which were understood to have been constructive.
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- New Al-Ettifaq manager Steven Gerrard (right) has held constructive talks with free agent Wilf Zaha regarding a hugely lucrative £16million-per-season, after tax, move to Saudi Arabia.
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But the deal is on the brink of collapse due to anger from Saudi officials working on behalf of Al-Ettifaq amid claims Zaha’s advisors are trying to negotiate more money from the deal
It is news that could play into Crystal Palace’s hands as they look to persuade the star to stay
Al-Ettifaq have made a formal offer to pay Zaha, who is a free agent, an astronomical deal worth a net amount of £16million a season ($20m) – a sum that would equate to £600,000-per-week before tax. The offer was formally made in writing.
However, sources close to the Saudi Pro League have revealed the deal is currently off after Zaha’s advisors asked for up to £7.5million more to agree the deal. A Saudi source said: ‘There is not a bottomless pit of money and we will not be held to ransom.’
There is a feeling Al-Ettifaq can sign as many as three world class players with the money it could cost to lure Zaha to Saudi.
It remains to be seen whether the deal can be revived. Indeed, it is looking increasingly likely that a move Saudi for Zaha will not happen this summer.
There has also been an offer from Al-Nassr, but that deal has since been withdrawn amid similar objections from Saudi officials. Lazio and Fenerbahce have also made formal approaches but on less money than the offer of a four-year deal at Palace.
Palace’s gambit of a £200,000-per-week contract extension has officially expired because it was a renewal deal. He previous deal at Selhurst Park expired on July 1.
However, a completely new contract for Zaha is now on the table and if he wants to stay in European football then, as it stands, the deal with Palace is the most lucrative.
Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid and Napoli have also made enquiries for Zaha, who will make a decision on his future once he returns from his honeymoon next week.
