---
title: "Crystal Palace: Fans react as Dwight McNeil is linked as possible Wilfried Zaha replacement"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/crystal-palace-fans-react-as-dwight-mcneil-is-linked-as-possible-wilfried-zaha-replacement/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Luke Seychell"
section: "Crystal Palace"
published: "2020-04-30T12:50:55Z"
modified: "2020-04-30T12:50:55Z"
---

# Crystal Palace: Fans react as Dwight McNeil is linked as possible Wilfried Zaha replacement

**A lot of Crystal Palace fans are discussing Burnley winger Dwight McNeil after it was reported that the Eagles are looking at him as a possible long-term successor to Wilfried Zaha, according to the [Mail.](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-8268369/Crystal-Palace-ready-rival-Man-Utd-Everton-Burnley-star-Dwight-McNeil.html)**

Zaha has become a legend at Palace since his return from Manchester United, and he has made 356 appearances for the club, scoring 56 goals and picking up 70 assists, per[Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/wilfried-zaha/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/145988/verein/873).

It is his pure trickery that makes him such a good winger, whilst he has linked been various big clubs over the years. More recently Arsenal were interested in him, per [TheBootRoom](https://tbrfootball.com/report-arsenal-want-wilfried-zaha-this-summer-crystal-palace-exit-inevitable/) and statistics, like the fact he completes on average 4.7 dribbles a game, via [WhoScored](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/85059/Show/Wilfried-Zaha), highlight his confidence to take on defences and also shows that he gets past them on many occasions.

\[freshpress-poll id=”294894″\]

According to the [Mail](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-8268369/Crystal-Palace-ready-rival-Man-Utd-Everton-Burnley-star-Dwight-McNeil.html), even though bigger clubs like Manchester United and Everton are interested in 20-year-old McNeil, per [Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/dwight-mcneil/profil/spieler/584769), the Eagles hope the offer of regular first-team football coupled with an increase on his current Clarets salary will help them secure the highly-rated winger.

McNeil has managed two goals and five assists this campaign, whilst averaging 1.5 key passes a game and an impressive 2.1 successful dribbles per game, via [Whoscored.](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/357427/Show/Dwight-McNeil) Even though it is not as many as Zaha, it shows that the two are similar in the fact that they are good on the ball and have a confidence to take defences on.

The signing would be a good one for the Eagles, the Clarets winger is an England U21 international, via [Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/dwight-mcneil/profil/spieler/584769), and has years of growth ahead of him. Some Palace fans think it would be great if they could get the player alongside Zaha instead of as a replacement.

Here is what fans had to say following the news:

> 📰 Palace have identified Burnley's Dwight McNeil as their preferred long-term successor to Wilfried Zaha.
>
> They hope the offer of regular first-team football and a handsome increase on his current Clarets salary will help them secure the highly-rated winger.
>
> \[Mail\] [#CPFC](https://x.com/hashtag/CPFC?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) [pic.twitter.com/AZUQkO7vNF](https://t.co/AZUQkO7vNF)
>
> — PALACE XTRA 📰 (@cpfc\_xtra) [April 29, 2020](https://x.com/cpfc_xtra/status/1255473206145675264?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> Really isnt a Zaha replacement
>
> — Mark (@Mark\_CPFC) [April 29, 2020](https://twitter.com/Mark_CPFC/status/1255512837948092418?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> Would be great but he’s nothing like Wilf at all
>
> — Joe 🥥 (@jffcpfc) [April 29, 2020](https://twitter.com/jffcpfc/status/1255473314119720963?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> We should be signing these types of players even if Wilf stays lmao we need help in attack
>
> — Will🦅🇬🇧🇬🇷 (@CPFCWiII) [April 29, 2020](https://twitter.com/CPFCWiII/status/1255476953928302592?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> Very good player, but not a Wilf type player.
>
> — Chrissy Palace (@ChrissyPalace) [April 29, 2020](https://twitter.com/ChrissyPalace/status/1255487447825289218?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> Yes please
>
> — CPFC Lewis (@CPFCLewis\_) [April 29, 2020](https://twitter.com/CPFCLewis_/status/1255500553171472384?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> he’s so different to him, good player but rather kostic
>
> — WilfNYannick🤟🏿⚽️ (@zachcpfc) [April 29, 2020](https://twitter.com/zachcpfc/status/1255475094056505346?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

***Palace fans, is McNeill a good replacement if Zaha left? Comment below!***