Ex-Man Utd man signed for £15m on verge of shock loan switch as he links up with ex-Aston Villa boss

Former Manchester United winger Wilfried Zaha is expected to complete a shock loan move to ambitious MLS outfit Charlotte FC in January. The 32-year-old, who joined the Red Devils in an exciting £15m deal in January 2013, was the final signing of Sir Alex Ferguson’s incredible 39-year career in football management.

Zaha signed for the Red Devils before returning to the Eagles on loan. At the time, Ferguson said: "We like to sign players with potential. We develop players and that's been proven many times. Hopefully the boy enjoys it here."

Meanwhile, Zaha, who was just 20-years-old at the time added: "I am delighted to be joining Manchester United. However, my focus for the next five months will be solely at Crystal Palace."

Zaha never got to play for the Red Devils under Ferguson as the United great retired at the end of the 2012-13 after winning his final Premier League title. The young winger made just four appearances across all competitions under the stewardship of successor David Moyes before being sent out on loan to Cardiff City where he was reunited with Neil Warnock.

“He was only a young lad and went there and didn’t get a lot of help,” Warnock said when describing Zaha’s stint at Old Trafford. “I’d love to have seen him [at a top club]. When he’s got an arm around him, he’s so exciting to watch and so dynamic.”

Zaha left Manchester United to rejoin Crystal Palace for a figure of around £3m just 18 months after his arrival at Old Trafford. The 33-time Ivory Coast international went on to 90 goals and 52 assists in 458 appearances for the Eagles, becoming one of the club’s greatest players of the Premier League era and their all-time leading scorer in England’s top-flight.

What next for Wilfried Zaha?

Wilfried Zaha left Selhurst Park for a second time to join Galatasaray on a free transfer in 2023. He managed to score 10 times in 42 appearances across all competitions, including once against Manchester United, while winning the Turkish title before joining Lyon on a season-long loan deal just days after his cameo appearance in the Turkish Super Cup.

However, Zaha has struggled to find form in just six appearances with the financially-struggling club and is now hoping to move on to pastures new once that loan deal is terminated.

TalkSport claim Charlotte FC are in pole position to sign Zaha on loan in January due to a little known rule that allows MLS clubs to sign players that have already played for two clubs in the same season. The MLS side are managed by former Aston Villa and Leicester City boss Dean Smith who is pushing to get the deal over the line to enhance his team’s attacking options.

Palace would bring Zaha back ‘in a heartbeat’

Zaha is highly-rated from both of his spells at Crystal Palace and could even return for a third-stint in the summer, according to chairman Steve Parish.

He admitted last summer: “I’d have Wilf Zaha back in a heartbeat. He's, you know, he's part of our club, part of our history as I've said countless times. There's a few people that can lay claim to being at the heart of the resurgence of the club and Wilfried is certainly very much one of them.

“We've stayed in the division sometimes by the force of his will, so of course we would. Unfortunately it doesn't look like that's going to be possible this summer for various reasons. We continue to wish him all the best out there and I'm in contact with him every now and again.”