Report reveals if Everton will go back in for Zaha next summer
One of the main storylines of last summer’s transfer window for Everton was their well-publicised pursuit of Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha.
The Ivory Coast international is a transcendent talent who has probably exhausted his welcome at Selhurst Park.
The Toffees were hugely keen to bring the mercurial wideman to Goodison Park, but the Eagles’ humongous valuation scuppered their hopes.
They ended up completing a deal for Alex Iwobi from Arsenal who – partially due to injuries – has failed to spark into life on Merseyside.
You wonder, then, whether Carlo Ancelotti’s side will be tempted to come back for Zaha next summer.
Well, according to The Times, that is extremely unlikely. They report that they will look for a new right winger if they have the cash.
However, it’s said that they feel they can get better value for money elsewhere. Given that Palace wanted £80million last time out, you can’t blame them for that.
Are the Toffees right to move on from Zaha?
It all depends on his price tag, probably. I’m sure if Palace said to them ‘here’s Zaha you can have him for £50million’, they’d likely reply ‘thanks very much, here’s Gyfli Sigurdsson in return’.
Having said that, if the Eagles do, as expected, hold out for another monster fee for the Ivorian, then Everton would be absolutely correct to move on.
We know that there are quality players out there, many plying their trade in the Championship, so you don’t necessarily need to spend massive money on someone like Zaha.
It will be interesting how Ancelotti approaches next summer after a quiet January. He’ll be looking for quality rather than quantity, that’s for sure.
In other Everton news, a former Toffees defender has named Ancelotti’s first name on the teamsheet.