Crystal Palace attacker Wilfried Zaha’s agent is reportedly trying to get Tottenham Hotspur interested in signing his client, it has been reported.
The Ivory Coast international was heavily linked with a move away from Palace in the summer transfer window, but that did not materialise.
As per Mirror Football, the former Manchester United winger’s new agent, Pini Zahavi, has offered the player to Spurs, who were reportedly interested in him in the summer, as per the same report.
Spurs, though, did not want to pay the £80 million fee that Palace were demanding for Zaha. Zahavi has also approached Bayern Munich in order to facilitate a move away from Palace.
Zaha is keen on leaving Selhurst Park as he yearns to play Champions League football. His contract with Palace expires in 2023, having signed an extension with the club in 2018.
The Ivorian has managed 3 goals and 2 assists for Palace in the league this season, in a team that have managed just 19 goals – two more than Watford, who have scored the least goals in the Premier League this season.
Is Tottenham Hotspur the right club for Wilfried Zaha?
Wilfried Zaha is a supremely talented player, whose future certainly lies away from Selhurst Park. The Ivorian has the pace, dribbling ability, and the invention to play for one of the top 6 teams in the Premier League.
The 27-year-old, who can play on either wing, would be a good signing for Spurs, who need to strengthen their squad under Jose Mourinho.
But, would Mourinho be the right manager for a creative player like Zaha? It may not seem so.
If history is any indication, this move for Zaha to Spurs is bound to fail under Mourinho. The Portuguese manager is a good tactician, but likes players who can contribute in all areas of the pitch, and is pragmatic in his approach.
Zaha’s flair and attacking qualities could be curtailed by Mourinho, while he is also not a player that likes to defend. While a move to Spurs seems enticing on paper, Zaha’s career could stall under Mourinho, and we could maybe see a repeat of what happened to him at Manchester United all those years ago.
At the moment, Zaha needs a club who play more proactive football and not the reactive type, which is what he is getting at Palace. Even though he will get to play with better players at Spurs, a move to a club with a reactive manager like Mourinho might stall his career again.