Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish has denied that the club will be selling winger Wilfried Zaha to Tottenham Hotspur in a revealing interview with Talksport.

The Eagles academy graduate has been the subject of a bid from the North London club amid reports of a falling out with Palace boss Alan Pardew.

Earlier reports point towards a sorry exit

It was claimed earlier today that Zaha had stayed behind after training to have 'showdown talks' with his agent and Pardew, but it is now believed that these reports are exagerated. 

Many outlets were reporting the Lillywhites’ bid for the 23-year-old was in the region of £15 million, but Parish has claimed that it was actually £12 million – a fee that he described as “ridiculous.”

The outspoken chairman went on to claim that “their manager (Mauricio Pochettino) thinks Zaha is the new Ronaldo,” before satirically claiming that he would “love to have Ronaldo for £12 million.”

Despite insisting that there is “no chance” the club will sell their prized asset during the window, Parish admitted that he had “not spoken to the player,” which will still no doubt leave plenty of doubt in the minds of Palace fans.

However, he went on to say that he “decides who comes into and leaves this football club,” adding that this is “something he (Zaha) will have to get his head around.”

This quote potentially hints at the winger being discontent at his current club but Parish and Pardew are adamant to keep hold of their man.

The wide man, who made his Palace debut in 2010, reportedly drew interest from the Chinese Super League earlier in the summer, although Zaha’s admittance at being ‘home sick’ during his short stint at Manchester United ended any further speculation of a move to Asia.

It is unclear whether Spurs will make another bid for Zaha but boss Pochettino has confirmed his interest in the twice-capped England man.

Parish (pictured) saved Palace from the brink of liquidation in 2010 and has overseen the Club's rise to the top-flight | Photo: Sky Sports
Parish (pictured) saved Palace from the brink of liquidation in 2010 and has overseen the Club's rise to the top-flight | Photo: Sky Sports

Palace chairman admits "frustrating" window for Club

Meanwhile, Parish also opened up on what, in his words, has been a “frustrating” window for the Eagles.

Parish has so far sanctioned deals for James Tomkins, Steve Mandanda, Andros Townsend and club-record signing Christian Benteke.

However, the Club have also sold fan favourites Mile Jedinak, Dwight Gayle and Yannick Bolasie, meaning it has been a fairly indifferent performance from the Palace hierarchy this summer.

The biggest news of the intriguing interview came when Parish admitted that he hoped to have a new signing sealed “tomorrow (Friday).”

Parish said that the club will still look for “one or two more” before the end of the window, including tomorrow’s potential deal – likely to be the season-long loan of Chelsea striker Loic Remy. The Eagles are also in the hunt for a midfielder following the departure of former captain Jedinak, with Everton’s James McCarthy being linked as a potential incoming earlier today. 

Palace face AFC Bournemouth on Saturday afternoon looking their first points of the new season, having lost both their opening games against West Brom and Spurs respectively. 

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About the author
Sam Smith
VAVEL UK sub-editor. Premier League and Football League accredited journalist.