Andros Townsend: Palace want Wilfried Zaha to stay

by Staff Reporter

Tuesday May 07, 2019. 09:14

Crystal Palace winger Andros Townsend says the club is lucky to have Wilfried Zaha, and hopes that the Ivorian star stays at Selhurst Park.

Zaha has once again been a key figure for the Eagles this season, scoring 10 goals in a Premier League campaign for the first time to once again help them consolidate their top-flight status.

This has naturally led to speculation that he will swap Palace for a bigger team in the European summer, but Townsend is hopeful the Elephants international will opt to stay.

"We're lucky to have him at Palace and hopefully we can keep him for a little bit longer," Townsend told reporters in England.

"The players, the manager, the staff, the fans all love Wilf and all want him to stay.

"He's a top-class player and, without doubt, the most naturally talented player I've ever played with.

"If you see some of the stuff he does in training on a day-to-day basis, it's incredible.

"But if that day does come this summer, next summer or the summer after, where he feels like he has to move on, we'll give him our best wishes."

On Zaha's improved temperament, Townsend said: "I think he had a spell this season where he was picking up yellows for dissent and got a red card against Southampton.

"I think that was the turning point where he realised he had to mature. Ever since then he has been incredible for us, he's been in great goalscoring form when we needed it most.

"He's matured. He's not allowed fouls or bad refereeing decisions to affect him. He's been the talisman we know he can be."