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Crystal Palace host Brighton this weekend in one of the Premier League’s most bizarre yet intense derbies and both sides will be hoping that they can take all three points, as well as the bragging rights for the remainder of the season.

Such is the immense emotion surrounding the clash, this fixture feels like a cup final for each team and no-one in the Palace ranks gets up for the game more than Wilfried Zaha – the Ivorian will inevitably be at the centre of the occasion once again this Saturday and for each time the two bitter rivals meet beyond it.

However, The Guardian’s London football correspondent – and resident Palace fan – Dominic Fifield thinks that the 26-year-old might not be involved in too many of these fixtures going forward, considering the interest he has accumulated from some of Europe’s big boys.

Here’s what Fifield had to say:

“In an age where south London is a difficult place to live and for kids to grow up, I think he [Zaha] is an inspiration to a lot of people. I know he is vilified by opposing fans up and down the country but he is just really, really good. Palace have a proper talent in their ranks, a player who could get into any Champions League team and make an impact.

“I have long since taken the view that I am just going to enjoy it while it lasts because I can’t see how they can keep him much longer. Even with his occasional shows of petulance, he has just been thrilling to watch and to think that he is home-grown adds to it all. He personifies this team and what they have achieved in the past six years as [Ian] Wrighty did the other one.”

It’s certainly true that many Palace fans won’t hasten to admit that they didn’t expect the electric Ivorian to still be an Eagle after the years of brilliance he has provided at Selhurst Park.

There is, of course, the possibility that the tricky number 11 will remain in South London, going on to become one of Palace’s greats but, surely the SE25 faithful would find it hard to blame him if he was to secure a move away in the next couple of years to a top club in search of European football.

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Palace are trying to take enormous strides both on and off the pitch and Zaha will be essential to that – as long as they can keep him for another couple of years at least.