Having failed to force a move away from SE25, Wilfried Zaha has reportedly sacked his agent. Will Salthouse, who owns Unique Sports Management, has been informed by Zaha that his representative services are no longer required.
According to The Times, one of the crucial factors in Zaha’s decision was Salthouse’s failure to foster a meaningful relationship with Palace chairman Steve Parish. As such, both parties reached an impasse when deciding the best move forward for the Palace ace.
As for Salthouse himself, he is not without his own controversy and media features; the Daily Mail has reported in 2018 that Salthouse received payments of £6,000 in 2015 and later, £4,000 in 2016 in free bets for inviting impressionable young talents in football to the world of gambling.
Zaha has been the crux of a major transfer saga over this summer’s transfer window. The Ivorian international garnered bids from Arsenal and Everton, although both clubs fell short of a valuation that was deemed to be acceptable by the Palace board.
Read Crystal Palace’s Verdict
In failing to secure a dream move away and enter the rungs of European football, Zaha’s Palace future is now in limbo. Zaha now hopes every transfer window can be a chance to move away, with the January and summer windows being viewed as the best opportunities for a transfer.
This is despite Zaha still having four years left on his existing contract – which runs until 2023.
Of course, agents stand to earn potentially millions in commissions from negotiating big-money deals, and it stands as likely that Salthouse will be left deflated by this severance of ties with Zaha. For now, Zaha remains a man in red and blue, and still features prominently for the South Norwood side.
Whilst controversy and uncertainty has lurked around Zaha during this summer, expect one factor to remain constant – this transfer saga won’t be going away soon.
