Wilfried Zaha wants to become one of Crystal Palace's top earners if he is to stay at Selhurst Park
Thursday 18 May 2017 16:48, UK
Crystal Palace will have to bring Wilfried Zaha's pay into line with the club's top earners if they are to keep him out of the reach of Tottenham.
Sky Sports News HQ reported on Wednesday that Zaha's representatives had begun negotiations with Palace on a new five-year deal, which is understand to be worth more than £100,000 a week - an increase of £40,000 on his current deal.
The former Manchester United winger has suggested he is keen to stay with the club he joined as a 12-year old, so long as a new deal, which brings his earnings in line with the likes of Christian Benteke, can be agreed.
Spurs have been long-term admirers of the 24-year old and tried hard to secure his services with a £15m bid in last summer's window.
Zaha scored seven Premier League goals and provided nine assists this season as he played a major role in ensuring Palace preserved their top flight status under Sam Allardyce.
On Thursday, Allardyce said he will expect "a lot more" from Zaha if the Crystal Palace winger signs a new bumper contract at the club.
"I think it is in negotiation, but I don't know how far it's gone and I certainly don't know what the figures are," said Allardyce before Sunday's trip to Zaha's former club, Manchester United.
"The figures that have been bandied about in the papers I would have thought they have been hugely exaggerated as they are always because it probably came from the agent.
"He loves Palace. As a youngster he has been brought up here, had a brief spell at Manchester United, came back, flourishing, getting a lot of publicity and, of course, with a bigger contract there is a bigger responsibility.
"So when he gets the bigger contract I will be expecting a lot more than I am already getting which is saying something because I am getting an awful lot now."
