Chelsea Boosted in Pursuit of Wilfried Zaha After Crystal Palace Star Hires Super-Agent Pini Zahavi

Chelsea's hopes of landing Crystal Palace's Wilfried Zaha have been 'boosted'​ - after the forward recently hired super-agent Pini Zahavi, who has close ties with the Blues. 

Zaha was heavily linked with a move away from Selhurst Park during the summer, but a deal failed to materialise. This season, he has three goals and two assists to his name from 21 Premier League appearances. 

Zaha ​sacked his agent Will Salthouse of Unique Sports Management (USM) back in September, after he failed to secure the player a move away from Palace during the summer. 

​The Daily Mail are now reporting that the 27-year-old has hired Zahavi to broker his exit.

Zahavi has an 'excellent' relationship with many people at Chelsea and is also close to Roman Abramovich. The 76-year-old helped Abramovich buy the west London club from Ken Bates 17 years ago.  

The Palace man remains under contract at USM until the summer, meaning Salthouse is entitled to compensation. This matter is set to be resolved at a private arbitration hearing.

Chelsea were originally prevented from registering new players in the summer, but are now free to enter the market again in January after having their FIFA transfer ban reduced.

The Blues have been heavily linked with a move for ​Zaha in recent weeks, with the club ​looking to sign an Eden Hazard replacement. Head coach Frank Lampard is believed to have £150m at his disposal and the west London side have drawn up ​a six-man shortlist of attacking players, including the likes of Leon Bailey, Jadon Sancho and Zaha. 

​Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson ​recently admitted that the club would be forced to consider a 'serious bid' for Zaha. Chelsea have since stepped up their efforts and ​are ready to 'table an offer' for the attacker, with Lampard willing to offer one of his strikers as part of any deal. 

Source : 90min