‘He wants to go’: Ex-PL owner thinks £80m star should join Tottenham

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Tottenham Hotspur would be the ideal destination for Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha to take his game to the next level, according to former Eagles owner Simon Jordan (talkSPORT, 7 September, 12pm).

However, if Spurs were unwilling to pay the staggering £80 million fee demanded for the Ivory Coast international before the financial crisis descended on the beautiful game, you’d be a brave man to bet on Zaha making the short trip from Selhurst Park this summer (Mail).

Tottenham have been hit harder in the pocket than many Premier League clubs of late. And, with that space-age stadium proving another drain on resources, the chances of Daniel Levy parting with a club-record fee this summer look slim.

Nonetheless, Jordan feels the 2019 Champions League finalists would represent a sensible next step for a player who appeared to outgrow Palace three years ago.

“(Palace and Zaha are in) a slightly difficult position. Zaha made it clear he wanted to go last season and got rewarded with a significant contract to keep him focused on staying,” said Jordan, who took no pleasure in suggesting the academy graduate could be on his way sooner rather than later.

“It hasn’t been a great season for Wilfried Zaha. Palace have a valuation for him I think is based on his talent.

“Some of the output he has given for Palace this season would not necessarily demand the same figure. If you could get £60 million last year, you’re going to really struggle to get that now because his form hasn’t been what it was.

“He does want to go but I’m not entirely sure there’s a queue of clubs that will buy him. I think, as much as it galls me, Tottenham is a place that would do Wilfried well.”

Zaha produced only four goals and three assists in 2019/20 – well down from his tally of ten goals and five assists in 2018/19.

As a result, the winger faces the prospect of being forced to spend more of his peak years at a club that haven’t finished in the top half of the Premier League since 2014/15.