Having failed to land a trophy for yet another season, Mauricio Pochettino will now be a man under pressure next season, as he will have to win something, to show for the progress he has made at White Hart Lane.
His transfer policy has certainly paid dividends till date but it might be time for him to start spending on established players, who can help them take the next step. One such player, who they might finally be able to sign is Wilfried Zaha.
The Ivory Coast-born winger started his senior career with Crystal Palace and spent just three seasons at Selhurst Park before joining Manchester United in 2013. However, his move to Old Trafford came too soon, as he failed to make enough of an impact, before being sold back to the Eagles, after three loan stints, in 2015.
But in his second spell in London, the 25-year-old has now turned into one of the best wingers in the English top flight. He has been crucial for Palace’s safety in the Premier League for more than a year and was voted as the Player of the Year for Crystal Palace in the last three seasons.
Though he missed a few games with an injury, Zaha registered nine goals and three assists in just 28 league starts and has shown great skill and temperament, even under severe pressure. He signed a contract just last May but was linked with an exit last summer. Palace managed to hold on to him for another season but Zaha seems to have decided to quit the club this summer, with reports claiming that he has now rejected a contract extension at Selhurst Park.
Several news outfits claim that Palace offered the 25-year old a five-year contract with a wage rise to £120,000-a-week. However, Zaha has decided to reject this deal and will actively start looking for potential clubs.
Most of the top clubs in England showed interest in him not too long ago, but it is understood that Tottenham Hotspur lead the race for his signature and will have to pay up to £70m to land him. It is a price that justifies his quality and is a player that solves an impending problem for Pochettino. Having spent on Lucas Moura in January, the Argentine manager is still not convinced of the quality in his attack and is looking at a player who can walk into the first team next season. Zaha can be that spark Spurs miss at times, starting from the left flank.
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He can also play just behind Harry Kane as a striker, a role he played pretty well for the Eagles. He adds a different dimension to this Spurs attack and is a player they will rue if they miss.
