Ex-Everton forward Bent claims Zaha is no longer a club target
Former Everton forward Marcus Bent has revealed that the club won’t be revisiting their interest in Crystal Palace star Wilfried Zaha this summer.
The Ivory Coast international has frequently been linked with a move to Merseyside over the past few years, with Everton notably failing in their attempts to sign him in 2019.
The Liverpool Echo recently revealed that the Toffees are interested in signing a winger in the summer, while Carlo Ancelotti may also need to find himself another forward if Josh King and Moise Kean leave the club this summer.
However Bent has drawn a line through Zaha as a potential summer target, telling Football FanCast that he isn’t a player that the club are interested in pursuing.
Bent said: “I spoke to someone at the training ground, and they did say that it’s probably the wrong time. If it was two or three years ago, they would have taken him, but it’s probably the wrong time.
“They don’t think he’s a fit for the club. That’s not coming from people up top or the manager, that’s coming from people I speak to in the press.
“I do like Zaha, he’s very skilful, but is he a team player? I’m not sure. I don’t see him as an Everton player.”
Right decision
Wilfried Zaha is clearly a player with ability, but over the past few years it has become evident that Crystal Palace are only interested in playing extreme hard ball with their mercurial talisman.
Zaha will turn 29-years old next season, which would see him fall outside Marcel Brands’ age preference for summer acquisitions, and Palace will most likely demand an arm and a leg for the forward, even if he pushes to leave Selhurst Park.
Clubs like Leicester have benefitted in recent seasons by exploring the European market and finding lesser known talents to bring to the Premier League, and Everton must embrace that mindset.
Alex Iwobi’s high profile switch from Arsenal should be evidence enough that signing players with Premier League experience isn’t a sure-fire route to success, and with Everton approaching a crucial summer of change they don’t want to make mistakes.
Zaha not being on Ancelotti’s radar makes sense to us, even if we would have liked to have seen him move to Goodison Park not that long ago.
In other Everton news, ‘Quite similar’ – Bundesliga expert likens towering Toffees target to ‘Sensational’ Everton ace.
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