Wilfred Zaha’s future takes shock twist ahead of January transfer window after Lyon disaster

Wilfried Zaha has been linked with a shock transfer in January despite being on loan at Ligue 1 side Lyon until the end of the season.

Zaha brought his second, nine-year spell with Crystal Palace to an end at the conclusion of the 2022/23 season, leaving Selhurst Park on a free transfer.

The Ivory Coast international subsequently signed for Turkish giants Galatasaray, where he could play Champions League football for the first time in his career.

Although Galatasaray won the Turkish Super Lig title with a record haul of 101 points, with Zaha scoring nine goals in 30 matches, he was loaned out to Lyon at the beginning of this season after struggling for consistent form.

His time in France hasn't gone to plan either. He has made just six appearances in all competitions without scoring amid injury issues, and recently attended Crystal Palace's 5-1 defeat to Arsenal while Lyon were also in action.

It has been reported that his loan spell could be cut short in January, with the Daily Mail now claiming that teams from Major League Soccer have expressed an interest in signing Zaha from Galatasaray.

It is claimed that several clubs have identified the 32-year-old as a key target, and would likely face little competition for his signature.

Zaha cannot move to a major European league as FIFA regulations state that a player cannot play for more than two clubs in a single season. He made a substitute appearance for his parent club in a Turkish Cup match in August.

But there is a loophole to Rule 5.4, with players available to complete transfers to a different league if their schedule overlaps.

The regulations read: "A player moving between two clubs belonging to associations with overlapping seasons (i.e.: start of the season in summer/autumn as opposed to winter/spring) may be eligible to play in official matches for a third club during the relevant season, provided they have fully complied with their contractual obligations towards their previous clubs and provided that the provisions relating to registration periods and the minimum length of a contract are respected."

Wilfried Zaha in action for Galatasaray (Image: Getty)

The MLS transfer window opens for 2025 on January 31 and runs until April 23, with clubs then required to submit their squads for the season.

As a result, Zaha could still be a Galatasaray player by the time the Turkish window closes in February before then leaving the club before the MLS window slams shut.

A return to Palace, meanwhile, would have to wait until next summer - though the London club would have to wait before completing a move.

Depending on whether Zaha signs for an American or Canadian club - which have separate secondary transfer windows between July and August despite both nations being represented in the MLS - Palace would first need the club in question to agree to a loan termination before then signing him within the specific window.