Zaha, of Crystal Palace, is understood to be a major transfer target for Chelsea

Chelsea are ready to table an offer for Wilfried Zaha, with Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson admitting yesterday that the Selhurst Park hierarchy would be forced to consider a serious bid for the club’s star player.

The Times understands that Frank Lampard has identified Zaha as a major target after a successful appeal against a Fifa transfer ban suddenly opened up the January window to the club.

Meeting Palace’s £80 million valuation for the 27-year-old winger remains a potential stumbling block but Lampard may attempt to reach an agreement by offering one of his strikers as part of any deal, with Olivier Giroud understood to be one player Chelsea would be prepared to offload.

In Chelsea’s favour is Zaha having made no secret of his