Crystal Palace were able to fend off interest in Wilfried Zaha from Arsenal and Everton this summer. Despite the winger handing in a transfer request, the Eagles were able to retain the winger until the close of the English transfer window. However, whilst the European market remains open, there is still a chance that the attacker could leave Selhurst Park.
Roy Hodgson is aware that this is a possibility. The Crystal Palace manager said, as quoted by The Sun, “you can never rule out the possibility that it might happen because the transfer window in Europe is still open…If you are asking me ‘would I welcome it?’ the answer is no. I would rather that he now gets his head down and commits himself to the season that we have got in front of us”.
Crystal Palace will be desperate to see Zaha stay. It would certainly take a large bid to prise him away from the south London club. It remains to be seen if any European outfits are willing to test the Eagles’ resolve.
TBR’s view
Zaha could certainly flourish at a higher level. The 26-year-old is a talismanic figure for Crystal Palace. Without him, frankly, Palace would likely be doomed to relegation. The Eagles simply cannot afford to lose the nine-cap Ivory Coast international. Given the figure they’d demand, and the fact that they can no longer sign a replacement, it’s highly unlikely that they will now lose Zaha this summer.
However, given Zaha’s obvious dissatisfaction, there remains a question as to whether he’ll be able to hit the same heights for the club this season.