This could be the summer he departs Selhurst Park. Again.
Wilfried Zaha is one of the most wanted players in the Premier League. After Riayd Mahrez’s move to Manchester City, Zaha can now arguably be considered the best player outside the ‘big six’, and Tottenham are keen to change that.
The North London club have had a longstanding interest in the Crystal Palace winger, but have been put off by Palace’s £70m valuation of their talisman.
However, Zaha has reportedly turned down a new contract that would see his wages at Selhurst Park rise to £120,000. Zaha and his representatives are apparently concerned by Roy Hodgson’s admission that Palace do not have much money to spend this summer and that their aim for next season is simply to stay up again.
According to The Times, Spurs rejected Palace’s asking price, and The Mirror have reported that they will offer Moussa Sissoko plus cash instead of the full fee. Everton are also chasing Zaha and could offer Palace Yannick Bolasie plus cash for the winger.
Bolasie was a fan favourite at Selhurst Park, but he is four years older than Zaha and has not reached the levels of performance he did at Palace since the knee injury that kept him out for a whole year.
Zaha still has four years left on his contract and a strong affiliation with Palace, but if his ambitions do not line up with those of the club, he could well decide to force through a move. Palace have lost Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Yohan Cabaye this summer but have not yet signed anyone to replace them.
If they do not recruit a couple of new midfielders before the transfer deadline, it is likely to be another relegation fight for Palace.
Tottenham seems like the most logical destination for Zaha, with the prospect of being coached by Mauricio Pochettino, living in London and playing Champions League football a tantalising proposition.
