• Premier League

United chief confirms Zaha interest

ESPN staff
January 16, 2013
Wilfried Zaha has already played for England © PA Photos
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Manchester United chief executive David Gill has confirmed the club are closing in on Crystal Palace forward Wilfried Zaha.

Zaha, 20, is one of the hottest properties in English football at present, with United and Arsenal both believed to be interested in signing the versatile winger in the January transfer window.

Tottenham and Manchester City have also previously been linked with the England international.

Gill, speaking at celebrations for the Football Association's 150th anniversary, confirmed that Premier League leaders United are in talks with Palace for Zaha - although he cautioned that a deal is still some way from being agreed.

"He is one of the players that we are looking at - that is all I will say at the moment," Gill told Sky Sports News. "I've been in football too long to say that is not done until it's done.

"He's one of the players we are looking at, but it is far from done."

Gill also revealed that, if United were to agree a deal for Zaha, the Ivorian-born player would not join up with his new team-mates until after the end of the current campaign.

"Even if we did do something with Wilfried, that would be for the summer," he added.

On Tuesday evening, Palace manager Ian Holloway complained about the unrelenting speculation surrounding Zaha. During Palace's FA Cup replay defeat to Stoke City Zaha seemed to pick up an ankle injury, but Holloway refused to reveal how serious it was.

"He might be out for six months - to stop you talking about him," Holloway said, speaking after the game. "Get my drift?

"I'm sick and fed up at reading about him. If it happens [the transfer] it happens. If it don't, it don't."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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