Tottenham transfer news: Wilfried Zaha is part of Crystal Palace's future, confirms Alan Pardew

Tottenham target: Wilfried Zaha
(Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
Giuseppe Muro26 August 2016

Crystal Palace have told Tottenham that Wilfried Zaha is not for sale and described their bid of around £14million for the winger as “ridiculous”.

Palace rejected an offer of £12m plus £2m in add-ons and have dismissed the offer as derisory.

Tottenham are thought to be considering a second bid but Palace have made it clear Zaha is not leaving.

Palace intend to turn down any further approaches and are determined to hold on to the 23-year-old.

Zaha spoke to Alan Pardew at the club’s training ground yesterday when he asked to leave but Palace insist his long-term future is at Selhurst Park.

Palace chairman Steve Parish last night told Tottenham that Zaha is going nowhere and Pardew today stressed he is staying.

Parish said: “We had a bid from Spurs but £12m is a ridiculous bid. I can’t imagine they are really serious. There is no chance whatsoever of Wilfried Zaha leaving in this transfer window. I can absolutely reassure every Palace fan he is an integral part of our plans.

“We have told Spurs there is no point bidding for him because he is going nowhere — 100 per cent guaranteed.

“He is not going anywhere. It does not matter what they bid.

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“He will not leave the football club in this transfer window. We are not going to sell him.”

Zaha has a contract with Palace until 2020 so the club are in a strong position if Spurs return with another offer before the transfer window closes on Wednesday.

Palace sold Yannick Bolasie to Everton for £25m last week and are reluctant to lose Zaha, their player of the year, as well.

Parish added: “I was told that the manager there [Mauricio Pochettino] thinks he is the next [Cristiano] Ronaldo. Well, I would like to get the next Ronaldo for £12m.

“We do not have to sell to Tottenham. I do not understand why, a week before the end of the transfer window, when you have had all summer you make a bid. Imagine if we did sell him. Then what are we meant to do? What player have we got in place?”

Pardew this morning confirmed he spoke to Zaha yesterday when he told him Palace are reluctant to sell.

“Wilf came to see me and said he believed there was some interest from Tottenham and may he go,” said the Palace manager.

“The chairman has put the full stop on that deal and that is the right thing for us. He is a favourite with the fans here and we are very keen to keep him. The chairman’s statement says it all about how we feel. The chairman has made his position clear and I will stand behind that.

“It is natural for players to understand if there is a bid from another club. I have had that many times in my career. I had this position with Yohan Cabaye [at Newcastle] one year.

“You have ups and downs with players, I have got no problem with Wilf whatsoever. He is very much our player of the year and a player I want to take forward with this team.”

Palace are thought to be in the process of renegotiating Zaha’s contract as they look to convince him his long-term future is at the club.

Zaha, who had his most consistent season in the Premier League last term, is on £35,000 a week at Palace and is seeking improved terms.

Christian Benteke is on around £120,000 a week following his £27m move from Liverpool, while Yohan Cabaye is on £100,000 a week and other members of the Palace squad are on more than Zaha.

Pardew will assess Zaha today before deciding whether he is in the right frame of mind to face Bournemouth tomorrow in a big game at the bottom of the table.

Both teams have lost their first two matches and Pardew knows that it is important Palace do not go into the upcoming international break pointless.

Wayne Hennessey is struggling with a slight injury so Steve Mandanda, who joined from Marseille this summer, is likely to start in goal.

Pardew has confirmed Palace are interested in Chelsea striker Loic Remy with the club looking to make a couple more signings before the transfer window shuts.

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