• Premier League

Martinez keeping tabs on Zaha

ESPN staff
September 21, 2012
Wilfried Zaha has quickly become one of the standout performers in the Championship © Getty Images
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Wigan manager Roberto Martinez has revealed his admiration for Crystal Palace's Wilfried Zaha, but does not believe the winger is a "realistic" target for a move to the DW Stadium.

Zaha is quickly emerging as one of the hottest properties in the Football League, but Palace have signed the teenager on a long-term contract.

Wigan tabled a £3 million bid for Zaha in the summer, which was rejected, and Martinez admits his hopes of adding the winger to his attacking options are slim with funds limited for the Latics.

"I think Wilfried has tremendous potential," Martinez said in the Daily Mirror. "He has grown massively over the last 12 months.

"The first time we saw him was against us in the Carling Cup a year ago, but he has come on a lot since then.

"Crystal Palace have high thoughts of him. I don't think it is going to be a realistic player for us. In these situations it has to be value for money."

The Wigan manager has instead turned his attention to Sporting Kansas City midfielder Roger Espinoza, who will soon be a free agent after an impressive performance at the Olympics.

"We will keep a close eye on him," admitted Martinez. "We have got really strong links with Honduras and been very successful there with Wilson Palacios, Hendry Thomas and Maynor Figueroa."

Later on Friday, Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish reacted angrily to Martinez's comments - accusing him of attempting to unsettle Zaha using the media.

"Some fascinating quotes if they are true from a manager about our player," Parish said. "Roberto would like it ever so much if we would roll over, in the meantime I guess he'll just try to unsettle our player using the papers.

"We didn't reveal any details of their bid we prefer to do these things privately and politely, different rules I guess for 'big' clubs."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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