Everton desperate to pip Borussia Dortmund in signing Ivory Coast attacker
Drew Bartle Head Sports Editor
The battle to sign Crystal Palace attacker Wilfried Zaha is looking likely to step up a gear, with reports in the Sun suggesting that German club Borussia Dortmund are to use the imminent funds from Andriy Yarmolenko’s sale to West Ham to bankroll a move for one of the Premier League’s standout performers last season.
However, fierce competition is expected from Premier League club Everton, who will be looking to use their powers of persuasion to tempt Wilfried Zaha to return north and help the Toffees, under new boss Marco Silva, to a lofty league finish.
If Zaha is indeed tempted to leave his home club of Crystal Palace, it would almost, at least on paper, seem like a bit of a sideways move to Everton who struggled for the majority of last season – while Palace surged in the final half under manager Roy Hodgson.
The lure of playing Champions League football next season though with Borussia Dortmund in one of Europe’s top stadium looks to be an attractive proposition – but would Zaha want to play outside of the Premier League?
The Sun say that Wilfried Zaha is thought to be keen to prove himself a top player at a ‘big’ club after a difficult spell whilst at Manchester United back between 2013 – 2015. Plus having rejected Palace’s most recent contract offer, it would appear that all options are open, but the south London club will hold out for as much as £70 million for the 25-year old.
Everton, say the Mirror, are ‘desperate’ to land Zaha in this summer’s transfer window – but doubts remain over whether the Toffees would be willing to stump up such a huge transfer fee and whether the lack of European football to-offer Zaha will be a hindrance in convincing the Ivory Coast international to Merseyside.
