Marcus Bent: Everton are still keen on Wilfried Zaha
Everton are still very much keen on signing Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha, claims ex-striker Marcus Bent.
Goal reported back in May that the Toffees want the Ivory Coast international amid belief that he could now be available for less than £40million.
Everton wanted Zaha in the summer of 2019, tabling an offer worth £70million plus Cenk Tosun and James McCarthy for him [Goal].
However, Palace knocked back their bid, insisting their talisman was not for sale.
The 28-year-old recently insisted he wants to leave Selhurst Park [The Face], and Bent believes a move could be on the cards.
“Are Everton any closer to signing Wilfried Zaha? They don’t seem to be. That’s exactly what they’ve put,” the former Toffees star told Football FanCast.
“With the Euros going on, we’ve spoken about Zaha before – the price-tag, are Palace asking too much? At this moment in time, what happens is that everyone goes away, turns their phones off and watches the Euros.
“It’s still ongoing, but it’s a slow one. It seems like there is something going on, but whether it happens or not, I don’t know.”
Could Benitez be working with Zaha?
New Everton manager Rafa Benitez has history with the former Manchester United winger.
While he dubbed him a”great player” back in 2018, the then Newcastle United boss, ahead of a game between his side and Palace, called for the FA to review Zaha’s comments he would have to break his leg before anyone gets a red card for fouling him [Sky Sports].
Benitez admitted that his pace and technicality could be too much for opponents to handle, and it will be interesting to know what he thinks of potentially working with him at Finch Farm.
Palace recently appointed Patrick Vieira as their new manager, and the Frenchman will surely be looking to convince one of the club’s best players to stay.
Signing Zaha would help boost our top-six chances next season and in subsequent seasons, though.
Despite Palace’s limited quality, he ended last season with 11 goals and two assists in 30 league games.
He has 47 goals and 25 assists in 231 top-flight games for Palace, and his quality will definitely improve Everton’s attack.
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