Crystal Palace eye Ismaila Sarr as potential replacement for Wilfried Zaha

Crystal Palace will target Watford’s Ismaila Sarr as a replacement for Wilfried Zaha should the Ivory Coast international depart for Chelsea.

Palace have drawn up contingency plans should Chelsea firm up their interest in 29-year-old Zaha who only has a year left on his contract at Selhurst Park – and Sarr is top of the wishlist.

The Watford winger has been subject of previous interest from Palace but they baulked at the £45million price tag. 

Zaha has been linked with a move to Stamford Bridge after making a bright start to the season

However, the asking price will have dropped to a more realistic £25million following The Hornets relegation from the Premier League.

Sarr, 24, has scored 24 goals in 93 league games for Watford since joining the club in 2019 and was part of the Senegal squad that won the African Cup of Nations and qualified for the World Cup earlier this year.

He had looked to be on his way to Aston Villa earlier this month after they agreed a fee with Watford.

However, the move collapsed due to issues over the structure of the deal and being unable to reach an agreement with the player over personal terms.

Palace remain interested in signing Conor Gallagher before Thursday’s deadline

Sarr could still get his Premier League move, though, if Palace decide to pursue a transfer prior to Thursday’s deadline.

Palace also retain an interest in Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher who had a successful loan spell at Selhurst Park last season but it’s unclear Chelsea will allow the midfielder to leave with Thomas Tuchel experiencing injury problems in midfield with N’Golo Kante out for a month.

Mateo Kovacic has also only just returned from a spell on the sidelines, while Ross Barkley had his contract terminated on Monday, and Tuchel could decide to keep Gallagher to ensure that he has enough options in the middle of the park.