Crystal Palace winger and England international Andros Townsend will have piqued the interest of football fans with his most recent comments offering his verdict surrounding the future of fellow Eagle Wilfried Zaha.
Townsend has claimed that Zaha is in line to secure a major move away from SE25 if his goalscoring form continues.
In comments offered to talkSPORT, the former Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United footballer was keen to praise the in-form Ivorian attacker, who has impressively notched 5 goals and an assist in just 6 games over the course of this season.
Townsend was keen to talk up the likelihood of a move, although he was quick to add that Zaha is very much focused on his current season with Crystal Palace at present as he spoke to talkSPORT (10am, 27 October 2020):
“I think Wilf and the manager have made no secret that Wilf wanted to move this window. It’s not like he doesn’t like Crystal Palace or he has fallen out of love. He just believes that he was destined for bigger things, which I agree with.
“But when the transfer doesn’t happen, for whatever reason, he now obviously still loves Crystal Palace, he still wants to do his best and we are seeing this season that he is playing a more advanced role. I think he’s not our only option this season.
“There are others we can play, which is allowing him to get on the ball and get 1 v 1, as supposed to last season where he was going 1 v 2, 1 v 3 or 1 v 4. And this season, he is flourishing. Long may it continue for us. If he does get 15-20 goals, like he is on course for, I am sure he will get his move.”
Insisting the relationship between club and player is strong, Townsend evidently feels Zaha is deserving of a move in search of the highest level of European football.
It should also be noted that this is not the first time that a move away from SE25 has been discussed for Zaha.
Former Arsenal head coach Unai Emery was reportedly a huge fan of the versatile Ivorian winger and was proactive in trying to lure him to the Emirates.
“We signed [Nicolas] Pépé. He’s a good player but we didn’t know his character and he needs time, patience. I favoured someone who knew the league and wouldn’t need to adapt. [Wilfried] Zaha won games on his own: Tottenham, Manchester City, us. Incredible performances. I told them: ‘This is the player I know and want.’ I met Zaha and he wanted to come. The club decided Pépé was one for the future. I said: ‘Yes, but we need to win now and this lad wins games.’ He beat us on his own.
“It’s also true he was expensive and Palace didn’t want to sell,” Emery concedes. “There were a series of decisions that had repercussions.”
Palace fans will undoubtedly be used to speculation over the future of their beloved talismanic forward – though fans appear to agree over Zaha and Townsend’s respective talents.
Both Zaha and Townsend have garnered praise for recent performances. Football fans took to Twitter to have their say over the future of Zaha and the recent form of Palace’s wingers…
Twitter: Great win from Palace!
Townsend and Zaha were exceptional! Classic Palace counter attacking performance! #CPFC (@George_Persona)
Twitter: Palace: All about one man for me. Zaha, GET HIM IN. Everything goes through him. Townsend exceptional as well. “Woy… https://t.co/Xi2uYrsFmk (@FplHooked)
Twitter: @wiIIbanks Only Zaha and Townsend score goals for Palace, and they’re always quality (@dijonevans6)
Twitter: @lateriser12 @FFScout Surprised you haven’t touched upon the hidden gem, Zaha. Up front, service from Townsend and… https://t.co/hf7TtXwg39 (@Ebaah)
Twitter: Would’ve been fun if Townsend kicked it back to Zaha and they play tennis against the Fulham defenders.
No disres… https://t.co/iUczvk7qpG (@alex_westry)
Twitter: For Hodgson’s counter-attacking system to function well, our wide men need to play with poise and work extremely ha… https://t.co/3nnk3itSix (@HLTCOPOD)
Twitter: Zaha’s back heal to Townsend https://t.co/n2IiTRljAB (@gazwaz69)
