Patrick Vieira has ‘no doubt’ over Wilfried Zaha’s Crystal Palace future
Crystal Palace manager Patrick Vieira says that he has no doubt over Wilfried Zaha’s future and has revealed that there has been no contact from any other clubs during this summer over the forward’s transfer status.
London rivals Chelsea and Arsenal have both been linked to Zaha in recent weeks of the transfer window, with the Palace academy graduate entering the final year of the five-season contract extension he signed at Selhurst Park in 2018.
Zaha has scored four goals in the Premier League this season under Vieira, netting his most recent strike in the 1-1 draw with Brentford on Monday evening.
The 29-year-old, who netted 14 goals last season in the top-flight, is Palace’s Premier League all-time goalscorer and appearance holder.
Zaha returned to the starting line-up after missing the 4-2 defeat at Manchester City on the weekend with a leg injury.
“No, not at all. I think he is used to it,” said Vieira of whether he had concerns all of the transfer speculation would affect Zaha’s performance.
“When you see his smile when he scored that goal, it says everything and shows happy he is at the football club.
“Today, we needed something special to score goals, and Wilfried delivered.
“I’m working with him every day, and there is no doubt – nothing crossed my mind that something like that would happen.
“The only thing he is showing is competitiveness on the field and doing well for the football club that he loves very much.”
Zaha, Sir Alex Ferguson’s final signing at Old Trafford, departed the Eagles in the summer of 2012 to join David Moyes’ Manchester United side.
But he returned to the South Londoners in 2014 on loan and re-joined permanently midway through the season.
“Nothing [no bid] has come from any other club,” confirmed Vieira.
“Wilfried is playing his football, he is enjoying his football, and, as a manager or the chairman, there is nothing from anybody.
“We are in a period where there is a lot of things going on in the papers, and regarding Wilfried, there is nothing true in that. This is the only thing I can tell you.”
PICTURE: PA
Everyone at the South London Press thanks you for your continued support.
Former Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick has encouraged everyone in the country who can afford to do so to buy a newspaper, and told the Downing Street press briefing:
“A FREE COUNTRY NEEDS A FREE PRESS, AND THE NEWSPAPERS OF OUR COUNTRY ARE UNDER SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL PRESSURE”
If you can afford to do so, we would be so grateful if you can make a donation which will allow us to continue to bring stories to you, both in print and online. Or please make cheques payable to “MSI Media Limited” and send by post to South London Press, Unit 112, 160 Bromley Road, Catford, London SE6 2NZ
