Andros Townsend is grateful Crystal Palace have a player like Wilfried Zaha, but admits the winger ‘should be playing Champions League football’.
In fact, the Eagles star says his teammate ‘could play for the very best in the world’, amid links with a transfer away from Selhurst Park.
AFP or licensors
Zaha is expected to leave Palace after nine years this summer as he looks to make the next step in his career
The 27-year-old has been eager to leave his boyhood club for the past few years, but has seen a number of possible transfers come and go due to Palace’s huge price tag.
The Premier League side are still said to be demanding between £60m and £70m for their talismanic forward, despite managing just four goals and five assists this season, but that hasn’t stopped reports of Arsenal and Everton apparently rekindling their interest, while he has also been linked with a move to Tottenham.
Townsend, however, believes the Ivory Coast international can aim a little higher.
Getty Images
And if Zaha can’t find a suitable move away, he says everyone at Palace will be ‘delighted’ to keep the star for another year.
“Wilfried Zaha could play for the very best in the world,” Townsend said on the talkSPORT Breakfast.
“He’s the most talented player I’ve ever played with and he should be playing in the Champions League.
“I’m very grateful that we have him at Palace, everyone at the club is grateful, and if we have him beyond this window we’d be even more grateful!
“If that’s the case I’m sure he’ll knuckle down and have another great season.
“He deserves to be playing at the highest level, but as long as he’s a Palace player and hopeful it does continue beyond this window, we’re grateful and delighted to have him.”
Townsend’s comments come following claims from ex-Premier League striker Darren Bent, who insisted top Premier League clubs should be be targeting Zaha this summer.
The likes of Liverpool, Manchester United and Liverpool have all been linked with an interest in Watford forward Ismaila Sarr following the Hornets’ relegation to the Championship.
Getty Images - Getty
But, speaking to talkSPORT earlier this week, Bent said: “I’d rather go with Zaha, just because you know what you’re going to get from him
“He’s been more established in the Premier League, he understands the league and we’ve seen him perform very well.
“I like Sarr as well, I think he’s been brilliant for Watford, but he’s been a little bit inconsistent because he’s still young, so right now I’d go for Zaha first over Sarr.
“It’s unfair to judge Zaha on his time at Manchester United because he was young,” Bent added.
“The way he has played since he’s been back with Crystal Palace, he’s earned the right for another crack with one of the big boys in the division.”
from Football - news, transfers, fixtures, scores, pictures https://ift.tt/2XV6oxf
via IFTTT
No Comment