Reading and Wigan to do battle over Crystal Palace starlet
Published:Reading and Wigan are tipped to battle for Premier League survival this year, but could dual with each other tonight for a potential new signing.
Wilfried Zaha is the player in question, with both clubs’ keen interest in the tricky forward well-known.
Brian McDermott was initially stunned by Palace’s £5million demands for the 19-year-old, but considering Zaha’s status as one of the Championship’s most sought-after talents, that fee seems less outrageous.
However, the Royals boss is still reluctant to pay that price, and will attempt to negotiate a lower value deal with Palace.
That could prove a risky game with so little time left though, as Wigan too appear primed to swoop for the Selhurst Park outfit’s prize asset.
Latics chief Roberto Martinez sees Zaha as in ideal replacement for the recently departed Victor Moses, whom Martinez ironically also signed from Palace.
The Spanish coach admitted earlier this week, “I would not be doing my job properly if I didn’t keep my eyes open.
“The last 48 hours of the window, there could be opportunities that cannot be turned down.”
Such quotes would seem to indicate that Martinez is plotting a late move for Zaha, and his approach could prove more fruitful than that of McDermott and Reading.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
