Everton are considering making a ‘substantial’ bid for Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha, according to talkSPORT sources.
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The 26-year-old has been linked with a switch to Arsenal all summer, although the Gunners are yet to table an offer that comes anywhere close to the Eagles’ £80million valuation.
However, talkSPORT host Jim White – who has close ties with Everton’s majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri – claims the Toffees have now entered the race for Zaha.
Moshiri is reportedly keen to make and willing to finance a ‘statement signing’ before the summer transfer window shuts, having previously been linked with former Chelsea striker Diego Costa.
Meanwhile, with Adamola Lookman set to join German club RB Leipzig, manager Marco Silva is said to be in the market for another winger and also wants to boost his team’s goal scoring ability.
Lille forward Nicolas Pepe has been linked with a move to Goodison and now his Ivory Coast team-mate Zaha is wanted by the Merseyside club.
However, former Crystal Palace chairman Simon Jordan believes it would be the wrong move for the Eagles star.
Zaha has made it clear he wants to leave Selhurst Park to play Champions League football, and Jordan doubts whether he and Everton are the right fit.
Speaking to Jim White on Wednesday, Jordan said: “They’ve not a Champions League contender at this moment in time, and I know Everton fans will be up in arms and say, ‘we will be soon enough’.
“Zaha has explicitly talked about wanting to play in the Champions League.
“He’s ultimately not going to achieve that at Arsenal either [this season], but with the greatest will in the world, I just think there are a lot more components for him to go to Arsenal than to go to Everton.
“He’s a London boy and I think he likes the idea of staying in London.
Wilfried Zaha always wanted to join Arsenal and has supported the club from a young age
“Going up north to Everton, whilst being a great football club, is a departure into an area he’s been before at a different stage of his life at Manchester United.
“He’s spoken openly about wanting to play for Arsenal and the style of football Arsenal bring to the table.
“But money will talk in the end.”