Wilfried Zaha backed to join Tottenham by former Crystal Palace owner Simon Jordan
Former Crystal Palace owner Simon Jordan admits that he can see Wilfried Zaha joining Tottenham this summer.
Palace boss Roy Hodgson said after their draw with Spurs on the final day of the season that Zaha must find a solution to the “dilemma” of the forward’s future.
Zaha, who was the subject of interest from Arsenal and Everton and saw a deadline day move to the latter collapse last summer, has been well below par all season.
With Palace standing firm that they will not let Zaha leave until their valuation is met, Hodgson wants to see the situation resolved ahead of the new season.
“It [speculation] has affected him because his form in the past few weeks has really been poor,” said Hodgson.
“It’s a dilemma for the club and a dilemma for him if he is so set on leaving.”
But Jordan, who owned Palace between 2000 and 2010, believes that it is difficult for Zaha to perform for Palace with the club’s tactics under Hodgson, and has backed the 27-year-old to join Tottenham this summer.
“I don't think Wilfried has covered himself in glory this season. I think he is a tremendous player,” he told talkSPORT.
“Obviously I knew him from a very long time ago - he came out of the academy which I produced - and started his professional career as I was going but he's an incredible talent. I've been a major advocate of him.”
“I think it's difficult to play in that side for him. I think it's difficult for him to play in the way that Roy [Hodgson] wants to set that team up with which is a team which reacts to what the opposition is doing, and a lot of onus is put on him to be able to perform but I do feel Palace are in a very invidious position because the player gave them another year. He is on £130,000 a week which in Palace’s terms, is very expensive”
“And now he wants to go now. He gave them another year, they gave him a longer contract which means they have put themselves in a strong negotiating position.
“I could see him going to Tottenham. It depends how Mourinho wants to set them up next year and what he wants to do with them.
"He wants to go. I could see him going to Tottenham. He is in the price category that Daniel [Levy] might be willing to spend.”
