Crystal Palace forward Wilfried Zaha could be set for a shock exit after being approached by Premier League rivals Chelsea, according to journalist Simon Phillips.

The Lowdown: Previous interest

The Ivorian has now entered the final year of his contract at Selhurst Park and was initially claimed to be in discussions over a new deal with the Eagles.

However, this will be the 29-year-old’s last opportunity to make a big-money move, and after enquiring last summer, it seems as if Thomas Tuchel’s side are ready to give their pursuit another shot in the hope that this one will be successful.

The Latest: Chelsea make Zaha approach

Taking to Twitter, TalkChelsea reporter Phillips revealed that the Blues have made ‘contact’ with Zaha’s agents regarding a potential move to west London in the final few days of the transfer window.

He wrote: “EXCL: Chelsea have been in contact with the reps of Wilfried Zaha for face to face talks last week on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. There was a positive reaction from his camp. Let’s see if we open official talks if Aubameyang falls through.”

The Verdict: Goodbye to a Palace hero?

Patrick Vieira will be keen to hold on to Zaha given the massive impact he has had over the past few years, becoming the club's 10th-highest scorer of all time, but now might be the right time for Steve Parish and Dougie Freedman to cash in if a sizeable offer is made.

The 29-year-old, who was dubbed ‘unstoppable’ by sports journalist Josh Bunting earlier this year, has previously asked to leave the club on more than one occasion, which shows his desire to play at a level beyond where he is currently operating.

The fact that Chelsea have now enquired more than once will show him that their interest is serious, so there’s a strong chance that he may feel Stamford Bridge is the place where he will able to achieve his ambitions in years to come, particularly with Champions League football on offer.