Marseille ready to challenge Arsenal for Wilfried Zaha

Ligue 1 top-three hopefuls Marseille have reportedly joined Arsenal in the race to sign wantaway Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha.

According to the Daily Mail, the French heavyweights believe they could lure the Ivory Coast international away from the Premier League by offering him Champions League football.

Zaha’s contract at Selhurst Park runs out at the end of the season and he’ll be able to join his next club as a free agent.

Despite Palace’s relentless attempts to tie him down to a new deal, the 30-year-old is hell-bent on leaving London for a more high-profile destination.

The sought-after forward has already made it clear he’d like to test himself in the Champions League, so the prospect of playing in Europe’s elite competition could be critical to his decision-making process.

While Zaha remains a long-standing transfer target for Premier League leaders Arsenal, his future could still be well outside England, with Marseille ready to bring him to Stade Velodrome.

Igor Tudor’s side are unlikely to dethrone perennial Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain, as eight points separate the sides heading into the final seven rounds.

However, Les Olympiens have the upper hand over fellow top-three hopefuls Lens and Monaco after a comfortable 3-0 home triumph over Troyes on Sunday night moved them back to second.

As witnessed by the arrivals of ex-Manchester United superstar Alexis Sanchez, ex-Arsenal midfielder Matteo Guendouzi and 2022 World Cup sensation Azzedine Ounahi, Marseille is an exciting destination.

With Champions League football on the cards, Marseille could add Zaha to their impressive talent pool, especially with Arsenal’s interest in the Ivorian fading following Leandro Trossard’s switch to the Emirates Stadium.

Adding to the French club’s confidence, the player has already turned down a lucrative contract offer from Saudi Arabian outfit Al-Ittihad, who tempted him with a £9m-a-year contract bid last month.

Zaha reportedly wants to stay in Europe and compete at the highest levels, something Marseille could bring to the table if their genuine Ligue 1 top-three push comes to fruition.

Across his two spells at Palace, the quicksilver forward, who came through the ranks at Selhurst Park before making his senior debut in 2010, has netted 89 goals in 455 appearances.