ZAHA HAPPY TO STAY AT PALACE UNTIL SUMMER

CRYSTAL PALACE have received a major boost with Wilfried Zaha telling the club he is willing to stay until the end of the season. The Ivory Coast forward had been seeking a move this month, and as Sportsmail revealed a fortnight ago has appointed super-agent Pini Zahavi to broker a transfer. But he has accepted no club is willing to meet Palace’s £80million valuation and will not attempt to force an exit. Zaha, 27, was unhappy at being denied a move to Everton last summer but is more sanguine about being forced to stay at Palace for the rest of the season.

Tottenham and Chelsea have expressed interest in him this month, but both clubs are prioritising the recruitment of a back-up striker and cannot go anywhere near Palace’s valuation for a wide player. Palace’s dogged negotiating stance is based on Zaha’s importance to the side, the fact he has three and a half years left on his contract and the strength of his relationship with the management and executives at the club.