Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson believes that Wilfried Zaha could be at the centre of a major transfer saga this summer, per The London Evening Standard.
Zaha was heavily linked with an exit from the Selhurst Park club last summer, with both Everton and Arsenal credited with an interest.
The COVID-19 pandemic has hit clubs hard, however, and it remains to be seen if clubs will be able to match his asking price.
Palace, per the report, wanted £80 million for the Ivory Coast international last summer but Hodgson is unwilling to assume that the club will be able to keep him in he next transfer window.
Asked if the impact of COVID was likely to preclude any clubs from bidding for Zaha, he replied: “It’s a good question.
“It’s an unknown isn’t it, how much money is going to be floating around in the next window.
“I think we’d be very foolish to relax and start thinking there will be no bids for Wilf Zaha, no big-money interest in him, because he’s such a good player.
“He has the ability to play at any level, anywhere in the world, so who knows? If we find it easy to keep him because there aren’t big bids coming in, that would be fine.
“But I certainly wouldn’t count on that because if I was at another club I’d be looking to sign players of his quality.”
GIVEMESPORT’S Harry Sherlock says…
Zaha isn’t worth £80m.
That’s a simple fact, especially given the performances he has put in throughout the 2019/20 season.
The former Manchester United man has scored just three goals this season, while registering five assists, and those are not the numbers of a player who is ready to make a step up.
Palace is his level and Hodgson should probably rest easy.
If any club has £80m to spend, they shouldn’t be splashing it on Zaha.