Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish speaks out on Wilfried Zaha transfer speculation as he admits ‘it’s no secret’ Eagles star man wants out – but insists the club won’t sell unless the right offer comes in this summer
- Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha is once again being linked with a move away
- He has consistently been touted for moves to the likes of Arsenal and Everton
- Palace chief Steve Parish says it is ‘no secret’ he wants to leave over the summer
- But he insists the deal must be right for Palace and club aren’t desperate to sell
- FAN’S VIEW: Palace must appoint Hodgson succession soon or risk relegation
Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish admits it’s ‘no secret’ Wilfried Zaha wants to leave this summer, but has reiterated that the club is under no pressure to sell unless the right offer comes in.
Zaha has been Palace’s star man since bursting onto the scene from the academy, briefly leaving the club for a failed spell at Manchester United before returning to his best at Selhurst Park.
Now, as he closes in on the top four of Palace’s all-time appearance list with 393, there is once again summer speculation about his future, and his desire to compete at the top level once again.
Wilfried Zaha (left) wants to leave Crystal Palace this summer but the offer must be right
Zaha previously left the Eagles for Manchester United but it didn’t work out for him there
‘We understand his position,’ Palace chief Parish told BBC Sport this week. ‘It’s no secret that he would like to challenge himself. But it has to be right for the football club. He understands that as well.
‘If those two things collide then we will have to look at it. But right now, we are two days into the transfer window so it’s a bit early to talk about it. He scored the first goal in the first game when we bought the club. He’s continued to excel for us – best season ever with goals and assist tally last season.
‘(He) continues to be an incredible talisman for the team. Obviously, there is lots of talk about transfers and all that kind of thing.
‘All I know is that when he crosses the white line for Crystal Palace he gives 100 per cent. Everything else, what will be will be. There’s a lot of love around the club for Wilfried and everything he has done for us as a football club.’
Steve Parish insists that Palace are not in a rush to sell despite Zaha’s desire to leave the club
David Moyes was the manager at United when Zaha left but he couldn’t get into the first team
The Ivory Coast international is now 28 and it is widely believed that it will cost around £50million to prise him from the clutches of Crystal Palace.
Arsenal have previously been linked with a move but instead opted for his international team-mate Nicolas Pepe, while Everton were also keen.
A move away from England could also be an option for the winger, with the likes of AC Milan having also been credited with an interest in the past.
For now, though, Zaha is away on holiday and is set to return for pre-season with Palace in the coming weeks.
Zaha is widely regarded as Palace’s best-ever player but wants to test himself at the top level
