Crystal Palace’s Academy standout may be a ‘great’ successor for Zaha.

Crystal Palace’s academy has produced some formidable talent over the years, with one current star showing promise.

Crystal Palace have uncovered some gems over the years, with few academy graduates as prolific as Wilfried Zaha in the Premier League era.

The Eagles have produced a slew of outstanding names from its academy at Selhurst Park, including England manager Gareth Southgate, who has enjoyed a successful playing and coaching career from his foundations in south London.

Other Premier League stars that came through the academy include Nathaniel Clyne and Aaron Wan-Bissaka, who was sold to Manchester United for a club record sum of £50 million in 2019.

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Following Zaha’s departure from Palace this summer to join Galatasaray for a fresh challenge, club chairman Steve Parish branded the 30-year-old as the Eagles’ “best and most influential player.”

Parish also mentioned the former winger’s effect on the academy, praising the 30-year-old as the driving force behind the new batch of players who “dream of being the next Zaha.”

One academy youngster is expected to have a bright future, with winger Jesurun Rak-Sakyi having all the tools to one day be the genuine heir to the Ivorian.

Who exactly is Jesurun Rak-Sakyi?
Rak-Sakyi’s allegiances shifted from west to south London in 2019, when he joined Palace’s academy on a free transfer from Chelsea.

The 20-year-old has settled in incredibly well at Selhurst Park, demonstrating his talent at both the junior and senior levels in the years since his arrival.

In his first season at Palace, the winger made an impression by scoring nine goals in 26 appearances for the youth squad, while also providing eight assists and scoring himself.

Despite posting impressive stats in his debut year with the Eagles, his form looked to improve the following season, with 25 goals in 27 games in all competitions in 2021/22.

The powerful attacker scored 19 goals and had six assists that season, making a mark in Premier League 2 by scoring 18 of his goals in the division.

With everything set up for him to improve and come closer to the first squad, his form earned him the club’s U23 Player of the Season award.

How much money does Rak-Sakyi make?
The youngster’s abilities are highly regarded at Selhurst Park, as evidenced by his five-year contract extension signed last summer, which will keep him at the club until at least 2027.

Chairman Parish waxed lyrical about Rak-Sakyi after he signed a new contract, tipping him to have a “bright future” and added that his “long-term contract is indicative of that” via the club’s official website.

When he committed his future to the south Londoners, the 2002-born player was given an upgraded pay of £390,000 per year, which equated to a weekly wage of £7.5k.

What is Rak-Sakyi’s playing style?
The 20-year-old is a left-footed attacker who works best on the right side and may be a threat in the closing third.

The Englishman, hailed as “wonderful” by U23 scout Antonio Mango, is a skilled and direct player with explosive pace and agility that allows him to “glide past players.”

While performing at the youth level is essential for any academy star hoping to make the first team, having senior experience can make all the difference when the time comes to leave the academy.

Rak-Sakyi spent last season on loan at Charlton Athletic after signing a new contract in order to get crucial minutes at senior level in League One.

From the minute the winger was given the opportunity to show off his skills for the Addicks, it was clear how much of a star the youngster might become.

The forward scored in his League One debut in a 5-1 win over Plymouth Argyle, just the beginning of what he would accomplish by the end of his loan spell with the club.

After 43 league games, the Eagles ace finished the season as Charlton’s top scorer in League One, with 15 goals and eight assists, earning him the club’s Player of the Season award.

Former Addicks manager Dean Holden gushed about his loan player’s performances, saying he is one of the best young players he has worked with in his management career.

“His individual brilliance in one-on-one ability is on display for all to see.” Over the years, I’ve worked with numerous fantastic young players.

In terms of his playing style, Palace’s official website stated that the 20-year-old is’modeling his game on Eberechi Eze,’ who has been an explosive addition to the Selhurst Park club since his arrival in 2020.

Jesurun Rak-Sakyi has 15 goals and 8 assists in League One this season while on loan at Charlton. What a player we have on our hands.

The Eagles are known for their versatility, which stems from the quickness and power of Zaha, who was a handful for defenders during his time in the Premier League.

While the youngster has a long way to go before reaching the levels of the Ivorian, there are indicators that he may one day follow in the footsteps of the club legend.

What is the value of Rak-Sakyi?
Football Transfers estimated the former Chelsea man’s expected transfer value  at the time of signing for Palace as an under-the-radar youth star to be around €0.2m (£171k).

As expected, his worth has began to grow, reaching an estimated high of €4.7m (£4m) during his tenure at Charlton.

He is communicating his improved performance.

The figures are significantly low when compared to the inflation that has become the norm in today’s market, but the gain in value after one season of senior football is positive for Palace.

What does Rak-Sakyi’s future hold?
Now that Zaha has left, the way is clear for the next generation of players to try to fill the vacuum left by the tricky Ivorian, who became a fixture of what to expect from Palace.

The 20-year-old has already received Premier League experience, making his debut against Chelsea in 2022 and his entire debut against Manchester United the following May.

This season has gone exactly as planned for the winger, who has already made one Premier League appearance, coming on as a late substitution against Arsenal.

Roy Hodgson has picked the winger to his squad for all four of Palace’s games this season, indicating the path he expects to go this season.

The Palace manager praised his player’s “remarkable maturity” throughout his stay at the club, saying he will only get “better and better” as he grows with the first squad.

Zaha has left large shoes to fill; yet, if one name can one day succeed in doing so, all signs point to Rak-Sakyi as that person.