With rumours circulating that a figure of around £8 million would be needed to convince Crystal Palace to sell nineteen year old Ivorian Wilfried Zaha, the young winger is starting to become out of the reach of West Ham.
Zaha has been impressing in the Championship for the last two seasons and has caught the eye of many Premier League clubs including Manchester United and Liverpool. Last January, Bolton Wanderers made two bids of Zaha for £5 million and £7 million, both of which were rejected; so how good is he?
To those who haven’t witnessed him play, he is essentially a younger Ricardo Vaz Te who likes to cut inside from the left wing with pace. He has also been played in a more central role after he found goal scoring form towards the latter stages of the season.
Zaha would add serious competition to the Vaz Te role but a price of £8 million is surely too much of a gamble on a footballer so young and only proven at the second tier of English football.
So who else would be available if Zaha becomes too expensive? If the aim is to encourage a player’s development at the highest level, a player like Huddersfield Town’s Jordan Rhodes is one who has impressed Sam Allardyce for a while and he may be tempted to go back in with another bid for the Huddersfield striker.
Matt Jarvis is another footballer who could be available following Wolverhampton Wanderers’ relegation. The clever winger, who has the solitary cap for England, will be keen to add to his international experience and could fit in well at West Ham in the Premier League.
There is now a plethora of players in Zaha’s position that could become available, and many of those players are likely to be available for less than £8 million. While he is an undoubtedly highly talented player, it seems too high risk.
Is Wilfried Zaha worth £8 milliom? Tweet me @WestTomUnited or visit www.martingeoffreybobby.blogspot.com if you agree or disagree.
Was Dean Ashton worth £7.25m at the time of his signing? Probably not, but sometimes you need to take a gamble.
Also, West Ham will never pay £8m up front as we do not have it. A deal like this would be based on many factors such as goals, appearances etc.
Just pay the fee his a real class act and will be playing for England in another two years . The type of player we should be getting not 37 year old keeper who well past his prime or 6 mill for 31 year old grant holt 4 mill for Jarvis it’s a joke what’s 8 mill for a 19 year old
honestly think about it. Could we buy a more proven winger for £8m answer YES. Eljero Elia and Krasic are two examples. If were spending 8 mill when we have just been promoted, we need players that have proved them self in the top leagues.
Those that call him a winger really have no clue to what he is and probably have never really watched him play… he’s on the wing for experience, he is a striker (who can play on the flanks) and will prove this next season at palace… yes… worth 8 million as a starting figure with add ons
Unpredictable,Exciting,Naturally Gifted,Great Pace,Knows Where The Goal Is and will continue to get stronger physically.
Unlikely 8 million would prise him away from Palace.
If you want the player pay for him or stop moaning about the price. Zaha will become a better player either at WHUFC or at CPFC who have a 4 year contract freshly signed.
If he continues to make the progress he has in the next year or two he will be worth far more than 8 million and you will not be able to buy him then.
TF – CPFC
Not sure whether he is worth 8 mill but he is a better buy than 31 yr old grant hilt for like 6 mill
Good player but we carnt take any risks we need players that we no are going to settle and fight to keep us up this year i trust sam he knows what works its not going to be pretty boys coyi
Pointless even discussing! There is a 0% chance of Zaha ever going to West Ham