Crystal Palace have many gamers who’re set to be out of contract subsequent summer season with 11 gamers’ futures hanging within the stability at Selhurst Park, and there may be one participant specifically that has had numerous hypothesis surrounding his subsequent steps.
Wilfried Zaha will probably be out of contract in June 2023 after seven stable years of service occupying a spot within the ahead line in south London, scoring 87 objectives and delivering 73 assists over 435 appearances. In consequence, there isn’t a doubt that his boots will probably be extremely onerous to fill within the staff if he does determine to depart on the finish of the season.
Arsenal and Chelsea have been reportedly within the winger over the summer season and with 4 objectives in 5 appearances already for Palace this time period, curiosity will certainly be proven once more within the upcoming switch window if he continues to be a standout performer within the staff.
Consequently, Patrick Vieira will certainly already be engaged on figuring out the right substitute for the Eagles’ aim machine over the approaching months, however what if he already has his subsequent model of Zaha rising by means of the ranks of the academy and thriving on mortgage?
Scott Banks joined west Yorkshire membership Bradford Metropolis on mortgage this summer season the place he has delivered two objectives and two assists already over 9 appearances, however it’s not simply his most up-to-date aim contributions that show he must be in for an opportunity to steal Zaha’s spot within the staff if he departs.
Just like the Ivorian, the proficient younger winger is a pure within the penalty space, scoring 17 objectives and supplying 15 assists over his profession to date with a aim contribution each 139 minutes of sport time, and most of these have come from his time within the Crystal Palace U21s staff.
Clearly a nightmare for opposition defences, it was again in 2020 that he first confirmed shades of the bubbling Zaha as a chunk of play on mortgage at Alloa exhibits him dancing by means of Inverness CT gamers with absolute ease, with Palace podcast HLTCO suggesting he was taking “liberties” with the defenders.
Ought to Banks be given an opportunity at Palace?
Sure
No
Crucially, Banks has expertise in plenty of roles with most of his expertise coming from the appropriate wing, however has additionally been recognized for use in a complicated attacking midfield position and the appropriate midfield too.
Vieira is already an enormous admirer of the 21-year-old dynamo, lavishing reward on the younger participant hailing him when the ahead was chosen to characteristic in pre-season final summer season for the London membership. He commented:
“His work was actually good, however he’s any individual who technically can play at that degree. He’s actually sensible, at all times discovering the appropriate place to permit himself to go ahead.”
With that being mentioned, the longer term is trying shiny for Banks at Selhurst Park and he now has the chance at Bradford to show his price to Vieira earlier than Zaha’s future is determined over the following few months.
