Speaking on a recent episode of the HLTCO podcast, Dan Cook questioned whether Wilfried Zaha would be happy to remain at Crystal Palace if the club were to appoint a new, attack-minded manager.
Having announced earlier this year that he was hoping to leave the club over the summer transfer window, no move materialised for Zaha prior to the passing of the transfer deadline, meaning that the 27-year-old will remain a Palace player until, at the very least, January.
Considering the fact the £45 million-rated winger informed the club he wanted to leave this summer, it is not difficult to imagine that this remains the case in January, or at the end of this season.
However, on a recent episode of the HLTCO podcast, Cook questioned whether a change of manager may have an impact on Zaha’s desire to leave south London.
He said: “Wilfried Zaha is someone that’s been [at Palace] since 2010, he’s dug us out of all sorts of holes, he’s scored massive goals for us, he’s been that creative spark time and time and time again, and I dare say he is getting as frustrated as anyone about the style of football that we’re playing.
“It may well be that he wouldn’t mind staying at Crystal Palace long-term if he was playing under a manager that gave him and everyone else around him a bit more attacking freedom.
“It’s that push and pull constantly between being pragmatic and making sure you do get enough points to survive and making sure you are still a Premier League club by the time next season rolls around and playing with a bit of drive and a bit of passion.”
Do you think Zaha will leave the club in January or next summer?
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TIF Thoughts on Dan Cook’s comments regarding Wilfried Zaha’s future…
From Cook’s comments, it appears as if the podcaster is of the belief that, should Palace appoint a manager who is slightly more attack-minded than Roy Hodgson, there is potential for Zaha to be convinced to stay at the club.
And, the fact that Hodgson’s contract is up at the end of the season could perhaps open up the possibility of Palace making a change in their dugout in the not-too-distant future.
However, considering the fact that the 73-year-old has guided Palace to 11th, 12th and 14th-placed finishes in his three full seasons at the club thus far, it would seem as if the former England boss has helped secure Palace as a consistent mid-table side, and, while a change in manager may help the club become more attacking, there is always the possibility that a new appointment may not work out, which could see the Eagles losing the security that Hodgson appears to have brought to the club.