Wilfried Zaha has become a target for Major League Soccer as red tape virtually prevents a move to the Premier League.
The ex-Crystal Palace talisman was at Selhurst Park for the Eagles' match against Arsenal last week. That led to speculation about a possible return to south London next month, following interest from his former team in signing the 32-year-old on loan during the summer window.
After leaving Palace at the end of his contract and eventually joining Galatasaray, Zaha was loaned out to Lyon for his second season with the Turkish giants. The winger was part of the Ligue 1 squad and played just 112 minutes.
It is understandable that another move is being considered, but FIFA rules pose additional problems. Players are allowed to register with three clubs during a season, but are only allowed to perform for two clubs, which Zaha has already done.
“Players may be registered with a maximum of three clubs during one season. During this period, a player is only eligible to play official matches for two clubs,” reads paragraph 5.4 of the FIFA Rules.
However, a caveat means that MLS parties interested in securing a deal for Zaha via Mail Online can still take action. Players are allowed to play for the third team during a season if they alternate between clubs with overlapping domestic calendars, rather than concurrent calendars.
Rule 5.4 adds: “As an exception to this rule, a player moving between two clubs belonging to associations with overlapping seasons (i.e. the start of the season in summer/autumn as opposed to winter/spring) may are eligible to play in official matches for a third club during the relevant season, provided that they have fully fulfilled their contractual obligations to their previous clubs, and provided that the provisions regarding registration periods and minimum contract duration are respected.
It is not believed Galatasaray would stand in Zaha's way if he were tempted by a move to the United States. Although a deal would have to be agreed on his £3.75 million annual salary.
Last summer, Palace chairman Steve Parish suggested he would welcome Zaha to the Eagles with open arms. He told talkSPORT: “I would like Wilf Zaha back in a heartbeat. He is part of our club, part of our history.
“There are a few people who can lay claim to being at the heart of this club's revival and Wilfried is one of them. We stayed in the division.” [Premier League] sometimes by the power of his will, and of course we would too.
Unfortunately, for various reasons, it doesn't look like this will be possible this summer and we continue to wish him all the best. I have contact with him every now and then. I'm glad he had a good time. Last season he made his dreams come true. He played in the Champions League so it's a great story for him, but if he was available we would of course be interested.”
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