Tottenham will not pay Crystal Palace’s asking price for Wilfried Zaha

Tottenham have maintained a long-standing interest in Wilfried Zaha, but that doesn’t mean they’re going to break the bank for the Crystal Palace star.

There’s little doubt that signing Wilfried Zaha this summer would add some much-needed versatility to Tottenham’s attack. There’s also little doubt that Spurs aren’t going to pay Crystal Palace as much as they’d like to receive in exchange for their offensive talisman.

According to The Daily Star, the Eagles have slapped a £75 million price tag on Zaha’s head. Predictably, none of his would-be suitors have rushed forward with that sort of offer. In other words, Tottenham, Arsenal and Manchester United are all content to let Zaha head elsewhere at that price.

It’s easy to understand why Mauricio Pochettino and the rest of the brain trust at Hotspur Way would wait this one out. Zaha has already made a public declaration of his desire to move to a Champions League side this summer. If Palace continue to quote such a high price for their best attacker things could get ugly between the club and Zaha as the summer goes along.

That’s really the only way Spurs are going to jump in the race to sign him. Zaha is a terrific attacking talent, but there are concerns about his ability to fit in at a big club. He was a spectacular failure at Manchester United as a youth before reviving his career at Selhurst Park. It’s unclear how he might adjust to moving back to a club capable of challenging for silverware on an annual basis.

His mercurial play on the pitch should also be a concern for Spurs. When Zaha is at his best, he’s one of the best attackers in the Premier League. Unfortunately, he’s also earned a reputation for being one of the most temperamental players in England’s top flight. He seems to get into a personal conflict with a player from the opposing side every time he steps out onto the pitch. It’s clear that opposing defenders try to wind him up and they generally succeed. That rarely turns into a positive for Zaha’s game.

In the end, Zaha would be a useful purchase for Tottenham, but only at the right price. £75 million will certainly be enough to keep Spurs out of the race. If the price drops down somewhere in the range of £50 million, look for Tottenham to pick up negotiations with Palace once again. Time will tell if the price for Zaha ever drops that far.