According to reports by Spanish media outlet AS on December 29, Crystal Palace are among a number of Premier League clubs interested in signing €15m-rated (approximately £13.3m right now) Atletico Madrid winger Nicolas Gaitan during the January transfer window.
AS claims that the Eagles, along with English top flight rivals Southampton, Everton and West Ham United, are all potentially interested in the Argentina international, who has fallen out of favour under Diego Simeone this season.
The report adds that the 29-year-old is keen to leave and play regularly in order to win a spot in his national team’s squad for the 2018 World Cup, with Roy Hodgson keen to bring him to Selhurst Park to boost his side’s battle against relegation from the English top flight.
The arrival of the wide-man would certainly raise some question marks over the future of the impressive Wilfried Zaha, who has been in impressive form once again this term.
Meanwhile, Tottenham Hotspur have bounced back well following the 4-1 defeat against Manchester City at the Etihad earlier this month, and they have long been credited with having a serious interest in Zaha.
Mauricio Pochettino may well look to strengthen his squad in the New Year to ensure that they secure a top-four finish and progress past Juventus in the knockout stages of the Champions League, and bringing the Ivory Coast international to Wembley could prove to be a shrewd transfer.
Here are three reasons Tottenham must sign Zaha if Palace win the race to get Gaitan…
They need more attacking depth
While the likes of Harry Kane, Christian Eriksen, Dele Alli and Son Heung-Min continue to consistently do the business for Tottenham, there is no doubt that they don’t really have great competition and depth behind the quartet.
Erik Lamela is involved again following a long-term injury but is still getting back to his best, while Georges-Kevin Nkoudou has failed to make an impact following his move from Marseille.
Adding Zaha to his squad would certainly provide Mauricio Pochettino with another much-needed option who has plenty of Premier League experience, in what could be a hugely important second-half of the campaign for the north London outfit.
His qualities
Zaha – valued at £16.2m by transfermarkt.com – failed to make an impact when he joined Manchester United from Crystal Palace in 2013, but he has shown since he returned to Selhurst Park that he is much more mature and consistent with his performances on the pitch now.
The 25-year-old has shown the influence he has on the Eagles as their season has turned around after they lost all six of the matches he was absent for because of injury at the beginning of the campaign.
Since then, he has scored four goals and provided a further two assists to lift Palace off of the bottom and out of the relegation zone.
According to WhoScored.com, the Ivory Coast international has successfully completed 63 of the 105 dribbles he has attempted in 15 Premier League appearances this term, and there is no doubt that his trickery and pace continually scare opposition full-backs.
He would add something different
While the Tottenham frontline all have their different strengths, they don’t really have a tricky and lightning-quick winger in their ranks with Nkoudou still yet to make an impression, and bringing Zaha to the north London outfit would certainly change that.
Sometimes Spurs have looked as though they need another option and tactic when they have been trying to break down the likes of Burnley and West Bromwich Albion – both games they drew – at Wembley this season, and the 25-year-old could certainly provide that spark or bit of magic that can make a difference.
Do you agree, Spurs fans? Let us know below.
