Speaking recently on the Football Writers Podcast, Dominic Fifield said that he ‘would be surprised’ if Wilfried Zaha were to leave Crystal Palace in the current transfer window.
It has been no secret that Zaha has been eyeing a move away from Palace over the summer, with the 27-year-old informing Roy Hodgson of his intention to leave earlier this year.
However, as yet, despite reports of interest in the winger, there has seemingly been no firm offer made by any club for the Ivory Coast international, who has featured in both of Palace’s Premier League games so far this season.
In fact, not only has he featured, he has highly impressed, scoring the only goal of the game in Palace’s 1-0 victory over Southampton, in which he earned a WhoScored match rating of 6.81/10, and bagging a further two goals in the club’s 3-1 defeat of Manchester United, earning a WhoScored match rating of 8.52.
However, despite these impressive performances, Fifield stated on the Football Writers Podcast that he ‘would be surprised’ if a club were to come in for Zaha over the remainder of the summer transfer window, as he doesn’t feel as if anyone would be willing to pay Palace’s asking price for the £39.6 million-rated winger.
He said: “The particular financial climate probably worked in Palace’s favour – I don’t think anybody was going to come forward and offer £60 million-plus for a player who turns 28 next month.
“I think he’s still desperate for interest to materialise in him, in what remains of the window. He’s got various different agents and representatives out there desperately trying to find him a club who will be able to offer him European football, or at least the promise of European football soon.
“I would be surprised [if he were to leave], I don’t think Palace are anticipating losing him [in] this window.”
Do you think Zaha will still be a Palace player by the end of the current transfer window?
Yes
No
TIF Thoughts…
From Fifield’s comments, it is clear the journalist is of the belief that Zaha will remain a Palace player beyond the end of the current transfer window, which shuts in early October.
And, from his performances so far this season, it would seem the player’s desire to leave the club is not getting in the way of his football, which, from a Palace perspective, is certainly good news.