Drogba wants to snatch England Under-21 starlet

Chelsea legend Didier Drogba has attempted to lure Crystal Palace starlet Wilfried Zaha away from England.

The 19-year-old has been setting the Championship alight for the Eagles this season, leading to rumours of a possible transfer to one of a number of top Premier League sides, including Arsenal, Manchester United, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur.

While these clubs have been jostling for an advantage in the race to sign Zaha, he has been continuing to put in impressive performances for Palace and the England Under-21s.

Now a report in The Sun claims former Chelsea striker Drogba has tried to persuade the forward to choose to represent the nation of his birth, Ivory Coast, and turn his back on the England set-up.

Zaha was born in the city of Abidjan in Ivory Coast and moved to England as a child, but has chosen to represent his adopted country up to now.

With likes of Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United interested him, Zaha has been tipped for big things in the game but he is yet to get close to a senior England call-up.

Having only represented the Three Lions at Under-21 level, he still has the option to switch allegiances at senior level.

Drogba has obviously seen the same potential in Zaha as his Premier League suitors, and his approach will be an attempt to steal a march on the FA before they see him as ready to represent England at senior level.