Roy Hodgson fears Wilfried Zaha will leave Crystal Palace this summer, but insists he is hopeful the forward will commit to a new deal.
Zaha is out of contract at the end of the season and has failed to agree terms on a new deal, despite a proposal from Palace that would make the forward the best-paid player in the club’s history.
The 30-year-old has attracted interest from the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham and Everton in past transfer windows, while several clubs in Europe are said to be considering the Ivorian.
Zaha has scored 90 goals in 458 appearances for the Eagles across two spells, but Hodgson admits he is concerned that the forward will depart at the season’s end.
“I fear he won’t be playing here next season but we can always hope,” Hodgson said at his pre-match press conference ahead of Palace’s trip to Fulham.
“I don’t know the ins and outs of the conversations. The club has had conversations with him and they’ll continue. I don’t know how advanced they are. All I can hope for, as a Palace fan, is that he’s here, but I can’t give you an insider update.”
Hodgson was asked why he felt Zaha should sign a new deal and said the forward’s status at the club and an improving team could persuade him to sign an extension.
“It’s a good club, we have a good team and it’s getting stronger than weaker,” Hodgson said.
“The potential is big and they hope next season to do better than this season. They’re all very good reasons to stay.
“Plus, if you’re that much of a club legend then that’s maybe a further incentive to stay on. There’s plenty of reasons why he could stay if he wanted too and plenty of reasons why the club would want him too.
“He’s already left a big legacy. His performances for the club, coming through the ranks, I don’t think he needs to concern himself over his legacy.
“It’s more about where he sees his future and where he wants that to be.”
