Wilfried Zaha’s African Nations Cup call-up angers Sam Allardyce so much the Crystal Palace boss might sell him for £30m
Tottenham are again keen on the £30m-rated star who wants to switch to Ivory Coast and will join them for Abu Dhabi training
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SAM ALLARDYCE is so angry with Wilfried Zaha over his African Nations Cup call-up he is considering selling him for £30million.
And Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino, who attempted to land the Crystal Palace winger in August, has admitted he still wants to him.
SunSport exclusively revealed last month that Zaha, who played twice for England, was to switch allegiance to the Ivory Coast — the country of his birth.
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Zaha has been named in their provisional squad for the tournament in Gabon and will travel to Abu Dhabi for a training camp after Palace’s crunch relegation home clash with Swansea on Tuesday.
It is a huge blow for new Eagles boss Allardyce who could lose Zaha, 24, for more than a month.
The ex-England chief is looking to deliver a decent run of results after taking over before Boxing Day’s 1-1 draw with Watford.
Zaha initially told former manager Alan Pardew he would snub the tournament — which could now see him miss six weeks with Palace — as his sights were set on the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
But the player has now been persuaded to join the likes of Manchester United’s Eric Bailly in the Elephants squad.
Their United Arab Emirates training camp starts on Sunday, but Zaha wants to play in the games against Arsenal and Swansea so has been given permission to arrive late.
Allardyce and chairman Steve Parish are angry, though, at his determination to play in the competition.
Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy has considered making a £30m bid in next month’s window.
One idea was to agree a deal in principle, with Zaha then completing the season at his boyhood club before the deal is officially completed in June. But the situation could now change with Palace extremely frustrated.
Zaha played for England against Sweden in November 2012 and Scotland the following year but was eligible for a switch because neither of the games were competitive.
Ivory Coast, who are the reigning champs, kick-off against Togo on January 16 before facing DR Congo and Morocco in the group stage, with the final on February 5.
Ex-Arsenal star Gervinho, who now plays for Hebei China Fortune, is crocked so Zaha’s arrival is even more important.
Ivory Coast boss Michel Dussuyer said: “Gervinho’s absence weighs down on us. But we have had several weeks to get used to the idea.
“The arrival of Zaha is great news. His profile is similar to Gervinho’s.
“One of the challenges facing us in camp will be that some of the players will be rested and others — those playing in England — will be tired and in need of some rest.”
Stoke’s Wilfried Bony, Lamine Kone of Sunderland, Bournemouth’s Max Gradel and Jonathan Kodjia of Aston Villa are also in the squad.
