Reported £80m Spurs target described as one of the country’s top 10 players by rival

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A highly-rated player linked with Tottenham Hotspur has been described as one of the top ten players in the country, according to a legend of his club’s rivals (Love Sport Radio).

Spurs and Chelsea are believed to be long-time admirers of Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha, according to The Mail.

The Eagles ace came through the ranks at Palace and such was his talent that Manchester United snapped him up in 2013.

However, Zaha’s spell at Old Trafford didn’t quite go to plan and he returned to Palace in 2015, where he has developed into one of the Premier League’s most influential attacking players.

The 27-year-old is eager to prove himself at the highest level and, with Jose Mourinho and Frank Lampard set to be handed big transfer budgets in the summer, his £80million price tag could potentially be met.

Kerry Mayo, one of the longest serving players in Brighton’s history, believes that Zaha makes all the difference for Palace in the Premier League – much as it pains him to praise him given the rivalry between the two sides.

“There’s so many players potentially close to being that Wilfried Zaha, but not quite there,” Mayo told Love Sport Radio.

“I don’t think there’s anybody there that you could honestly say could take the game, with a moment of magic, and take it by the scruff of the neck.

“Wilf Zaha is something else, it pains for me to say it as a Crystal Palace player but he’s a great player. I think he’s a top 10 player in the country and Palace you know, they’ve done a great job keeping him.”

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Zaha has made no secret of wanting to prove himself at the very top, but Palace have shown they’re not pushovers when it comes to protecting their assets.

Should Jose Mourinho be handed a sizeable war chest in the summer, the possibility of finally sealing a deal for one of the Premier League’s most exciting attackers could be on the cards.

Admittedly, Zaha has not quite met the superb standards he achieved last season, but for a Brighton legend to grudgingly admit a rival player is so great truly speaks volumes.

Zaha is still capable of winning a game all on his own when at his best, which makes the thought of him in a leading team, such as Spurs, very exciting indeed.