What I meant was that he didn’t demand a transfer just so he could join Everton. He wanted to get away and certainly if Everton had come close to Palace’s asking price he may have joined them. Equally with another club if they had. Wasn’t intending to call you untruthful. No offence meant.
I think he put in the request for both EFC and Arsenal, but PRE-DOMINANTLY for Arsenal. Even though all of us on here see Evertons team as absolute turbo gash with 1 superb player, who if in a top team would bag 20 goals easily. Zaha (via his agent) would have spoken with both us and arsenal and seen there is a bigger future ahead (or potentially). I have absolutely zero issue with Palace, seem to do decent enough business most of the time without pretending they'll win the league, never seem to include them in potential relegation fodder, but ultimately I do wonder whats their aim? He'd had seen us A. paying big wages which is always a drawer for players and B. Seeing how the club is being invested into and that we could be the team pushing up quickly so I can see how that step would offer some level of attraction for Zaha.
Naturally he would have wanted Arsenal first, as it probably requires a quicker route to success, staying in London and his past expierence in up north may come into his thinking too. Now even after an awful season by our standards, he's seen one of hte best managers ever come in and immediately put us in form that gets up top 7 over the course of a season. There is absolutely a drawer there for Zaha as he's not going near Chelsea, Liverpool, United, City in my eyes. Would Leicester splash that out? Maybe.
I personally dont believe there is anything wrong with seeing Zaha's season and go yep, hes absolutely underperformed. I dont know his personlity so it's hard to know if he had downed tools or subconsciously wasnt able to play at his best.
It is what it is, I wouldn't blame Palace for keeping hold, I think if they do sell they have been fair by Zaha and should get a decent fee, even if they may wish they cashed in a year ago. I wouldn't blame Zaha for going to Everton "it's a good step, but not the step I want" and ultimately I wouldn't blame Zaha for seeing that we are a project maybe worth going for, if Arsenal do not come back in or anyone of that ilk.
From our point of view, he's also not worth paying over the odds for. Yes he is very talented if not a bit in and out of games but absolutely not top level and again you ask what happens if his hearts not in it? We also have players in his position.
So to review;
Is he talented? yes.
Would he be an upgrade on Bernard, Iwobi and Gordon (who is a talent btw), the answer is yes.
Would he be stepping up a level? Yes, but probably not to what he wanted intially and there is risk that we underperform agian (other signings can maybe demolish that fear)
Is that level of a step big enough for it to be a clear choice for the player? Probably not.
Would a 50-60m deal be worth it? Probably not.
Lastly, can the club find a cheaper alternative? This is what could decide it, who knows.
I mean no disrespect to Palace here my friend, but objectively if you look at both clubs, one is really ambitious and while they've got it wrong so far, it took City efforts wrong and sometimes it takes that one player (or manager in our case) to kickstart things. The other, I'm not really sure how ambitious they are.
Regardless I feel palace have been fair to him like we were to Stones, Lukaku. Asked for one more year to give the club some security and time, then agree a fair deal. For your benefit
@Alan Whittle I hope CPFC have been smart and have plans for his replacement, unlike EFC with Lukaku.
