Last Updated: Sun, 09 Dec 2012 12:37
Manchester United hope to pip Arsenal and Tottenham to the signature of Wilfried Zaha by offering to loan him back to Crystal Palace.
The 20-year-old winger is the hottest prospect outside of the Premier League and Palace are facing up to losing him to one of the top clubs in the near future.
United along with the Gunners and Spurs are the three clubs who are leading the race for his signature but Palace do not want to sell as they battle for promotion from the Championship.
Palace would have to sell in the summer if they failed to go up but United are keen to wrap up a deal in January by paying £10million and then loaning him back to the Eagles for the rest of the season.
United did something similar in 2010 when they bought £8m defender Chris Smalling before loaning him back to Fulham and could attempt the same deal with Zaha.
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