Wilfried Zaha Crystal Palace
Roy Hodgson says that he believes Wilfried Zaha still has ambitions of playing in the Champions League, and is not certain the winger will consider spending the rest of his career at Crystal Palace. Zaha picked up a hamstring injury against Newcastle that will rule him out of at least the game against Leeds on Monday night, and possibly further into Palace’s season. The Ivory Coast international has long been linked with moves away from Selhurst Park, having returned to South London following a move to Manchester United that did not work out. Hodgson says that Zaha is an extremely important figure at Palace and hopes that the club will do enough to convince him to stay, but admits that the attacker does have lofty ambitions.
Roy Hodgson said: “No, I would think he still has a lot of ambitions, I think this was a very unusual transfer window, there wasn’t much going on if we’re to be honest, and there certainly weren’t many big money moves. A lot of the transfers involved loans or loans with a view to buy. I think when the market opens up again, Wilf Zaha will once again be a name on many managers’ and sporting directors’ lips. I think Wilf will retain his ambition to play Champions League football and do things that we’ve not been able to give him while he’s been playing here. But I’m hoping and believing also that the club will still be trying to persuade him that what you need to get out of football you can get here. How that will pan out, I really couldn’t say, it’s pure speculation. He’s good enough to play for other clubs, there’s no question about that. But also he’s a player who we’d like to keep here because he’s so important for us and is so important to all the fans and everyone around the club. Once again when the next transfer window comes around we’ll no doubt be waiting and wondering and I’ll have to wait and see what the outcome will be.”
Hodgson was also asked whether he believes Zaha deserves another crack at a big-money move following his spell with Manchester United. The manager says that a lot will depend on how the 28-year-old evaluates any offers he does receive and whether Palace can foster an environment that persuades him not to look elsewhere.
Roy Hodgson added: “Well he had it once, didn’t he? I think it came a bit early but he did learn from that experience, I do believe quite frankly that he has the ability, but then I’d also say that he’s not at a bad club here either. He’s at a place where he’s very comfortable and everyone knows what we need to do for him and we know what he can do for us. So it’s always that the grass is that much greener on the other side. I think a lot will depend on when offers come in for him, how he perceives that offer. That’s another thing to factor in the equation. As far as I’m concerned, I’m Crystal Palace and that’s where I’d like him to stay.”
