Wilfried Zaha is a target for Everton and Tottenham this season, according to Goal.
Crystal Palace, on the other hand, will struggle tooth and nail to retain their star player. Major changes are expected at Selhurst Park following the exit of manager Roy Hodgson.
On Sunday, as Palace was defeated by Liverpool at Anfield, Hodgson took care of his last game as Eagles manager, and it appeared to be goodbye for a lot of his men, with 15 players out of contract next month.
Everton and Tottenham are still interested in signing Zaha, according to Goal.com, and will look to complete a contract this summer.
Everton’s presence in the Ivory Coast international goes back to the summer of 2019 when they made two formal proposals for him. The second, worth £70 million ($99 million) plus Cenk Tosun and James McCarthy, was refused by Palace, and the Toffees later signed Arsenal’s Alex Iwobi on transfer deadline day.
However, their respect for Zaha has never waned, and they hope they will be able to negotiate a better offer this year.
Zaha, who is 28 years old, has two years left on his Palace deal and is unlikely to sign a new one. He could now be affordable for less than £40 million ($57 million).
Tottenham, who is now without a permanent manager. They are keeping a close eye on the situation. And will be able to make a bid if Harry Kane leaves. Arsenal was once interested. After signing Nicolas Pepe and seeing the likes of Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith-Rowe appear, they are unlikely to return. Indeed, as Goal mentioned last week, Arsenal is interested in Norwich’s Emiliano Buendia.
Palace intends to retain Zaha at Selhurst Park, according to reports.
With Hodgson steps down as chairman, they still have a lot to do this summer. Frank Lampard, Eddie Howe, and Swansea manager Steve Cooper have all been mentioned as possible replacements.
With several senior players expected to depart on free transfers, whoever is selected will have to reassemble the team.
Gary Cahill, Mamadou Sakho, Nathaniel Clyne, Christian Benteke, Wayne Hennessey, Patrick van Aanholt, Andros Townsend, Jeffrey Schlupp, James McCarthy, Joel Ward, Martin Kelly, and Scott Dann are currently unemployed.
Zaha’s case is made even more difficult by Eberechi Eze’s Achilles injury. This will hold the England U-21 star out for several months. Going forward, the Eagles want to develop their team around Eze and Zaha.
The former Manchester United midfielder publicly stated that he was open to the possibility of a new opportunity. He claims that he still has the potential and desire to play at the highest level of the Premier League.
He said to The Face: “I believe I have a chance to compete among the best teams again. Winning is my hope. I’m strong enough to contend with the best in the world. If the opportunity arose, I would not refuse it because I believe I am deserving of it. It’s so that I can show my children, ‘This is what daddy earned’.”
