Wilfried Zaha exit from Crystal Palace in January not ruled out by Roy Hodgson
Jason Puncheon available for Swansea trip, despite being charged with assault
Thursday 21 December 2017 15:19, UK
Roy Hodgson has not ruled out Wilfried Zaha leaving Crystal Palace in the January transfer window.
Zaha is attracting interest from Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal, according to national newspaper reports.
The winger left Palace for Manchester United in 2013, only to return to Selhurst Park two years later having failed to earn a regular first-team place.
But Hodgson refused to confirm Zaha will still be at the club at the end of January.
"I don't think as a manager you can ever give guarantees on anything," said Hodgson ahead of facing Swansea on Saturday.
"It's a great credit to the club and to Wilf Zaha that if there are rumours circulating of so-called bigger clubs looking at him and maybe making a bid, we should be pleased about that.
"It means he is doing his job, he's helping us get the points we've been getting. I'll look at it that way at the moment.
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"If the day comes when one of those rumours becomes the truth, I'll come to terms with it and deal with it at that moment in time.
"If you ask me do I want Wilf Zaha to stay at the club then I'm like the rest of the Crystal Palace supporters, of course I do."
Zaha may lead Palace's attack in the absence of the suspended Christian Benteke, who is the club's only fit first-team striker.
Hodgson confirmed Jason Puncheon is available for Palace's trip to Swansea, despite being charged with assault and possession of an offensive weapon.
The Palace midfielder was arrested and taken into custody after officers were called to the disturbance in Church Street, Reigate, Surrey Police said.
"At the moment he remains club captain and available for selection," Hodgson said, confirming both he and the Palace chairman, Steve Parish, have spoken to Puncheon.
"What the club are deciding to do is to wait until this police investigation is completed and we are in full control of the facts of the situation," said Hodgson.
"When that happens and when that has been made clear to us by the police, and he's had his trial, then we will decide what action is necessary to take.
"In the meantime, we are presuming his innocence until he is found guilty of any crime."
