Sunday Mirror (Northern Ireland)
ZAHA’S SET FOR BLUES NOT SPURS
TOTTENHAM have pulled out of the race for Wilfried Zaha after Crystal Palace demanded £75million for the winger.
And that’s left Chelsea a clear run at the 25-year-old Ivory Coast international.
Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino was keen to land Zaha – but he’s been blown out of the water by Palace’s valuation.
Zaha, who signed a £100,000-aweek new deal at Selhurst Park just over a year ago, has rejected Palace’s offer of a new contract boosting his pay packet by another £25,000-a-week.
Palace boss Roy Hodgson is adamant former Manchester United star Zaha is going nowhere and is vital to their plans.
But Zaha believes he has done his time at Palace and wants to push through a move to Chelsea who are deliberating on the future of Willian, with Barcelona and Manchester United circling the Blues star.
Zaha, who opted to play for
Ivory Coast last season after England failed to tempt him into a Three Lions shirt, would be an ideal fit for Chelsea.
It would give the winger a better long-term chance of Champions League football, his next goal.
He faces a fight with Palace to let him go – but if Chelsea go close to the huge asking price the Eagles WILL do a deal. CHELSEA are stalling on loaning Tammy Abraham (left) because of a potential striker crisis – Maurizio Sarri is not keen on Marseille target Olivier Giroud, and Michy Batshuayi could go too. EVERTON winger Kevin Mirallas is to join Fiorentina on a season’s loan. The Belgian, who spent the second half of last term at Olympiakos, is having a medical in Italy.
Mirallas, 30, joined Everton six years ago from the Greek side, making nearly 200 appearances, but is no part of new boss Marco Silva’s plans.