Crystal Palace star Wilfried Zaha may agree to leave the club in January, The Athletic journalist Dominic Fifield has hinted.

The lowdown

The 29-year-old is into the final year of his contract at Selhurst Park, having signed his last extension back in August 2018. The Ivorian is already the top earner at the club by some distance on £130,000 per week, more than £35,000 ahead of second-placed Odsonne Edouard.

Zaha has already attracted interest from the continent, though, with Corriere dello Sport reporting (via Sport Witness) in the summer that AS Roma had held talks with his representatives. The Giallorossi are, of course, managed by Jose Mourinho, a three-time winner of the Premier League.

The latest

A Palace supporter asked Fifield on The Athletic's matchday discussion board whether there was any chance of Zaha signing a new deal. He didn't rule it out, suggesting that the Eagles could potentially offer the winger a better contract than his suitors.

However, Fifield pointed out that Zaha will be able to strike a pre-contract agreement with foreign clubs at the turn of the year, which has to be a worry for Palace.

He wrote: "Never say never re Zaha. It will come down to what kind of offers are made to him - there is surely a scenario where Palace's might be the best, financially, on the table.

"January is a concern, obviously, given he will be able to talk to and agree terms with foreign clubs then."

The verdict

The potential loss of Zaha at the end of the season could be had for Palace to absorb. He is surely a club legend, having played 436 matches for the Eagles and registered 160 direct goal contributions (87 goals, 83 assists).

Also, based on the start he has made to this season, the 29-year-old remains very much at the top of his game. In six Premier League appearances, he has found the net four times.

Beyond goalscoring and chance creation, Zaha is also a pressing machine, ranking in the 85th percentile among wingers in the big five European leagues over the past 12 months for pressures per 90 (via FBRef).

He is undoubtedly a key asset to Patrick Vieira both in and out of possession, so the Eagles must be careful that he isn't allowed to simply walk away from Selhurst Park for nothing in 2023.