Wilfried Zaha
Also eligible to represent the Ivory Coast, Wilfried Zaha made his debut for England, against Sweden, last November. Reuters

Crystal Palace have dismissed the notion that Manchester United could sign Wilfried Zaha in January and allow the winger to remain at the Championship club until the end of the season. United’s reported willingness to complete such a deal is believed to have seen them become front runners to land the highly coveted 20-year-old in next month’s transfer window.

However, Palace co-chairman Steve Parish has said that he doesn’t see the value in such an agreement.

“That idea doesn’t strike me with joy” he said, according to the London Evening Standard. “I’m not sure what you would get out of a player.

Parish also said that he is only focused on what will help his club achieve promotion to the Premier League this season.

“We just want to put a lid on it now. All I care about is getting promoted. In the end, that’s all I care about.

“Wilfried is on a four-and-a-half year contract and every real offer that comes in, we look at it in the context of what’s best for our chances of getting promoted.”

Parish has previously valued Zaha at £20 million, although it is believed that a deal could be finalized for significantly less than that amount. Arsenal and Manchester City are among the other clubs to be linked to Zaha, who made his debut for England last month.

There has also been a further report about Manchester United’s interest in PSV Eindhoven midfielder Kevin Strootman.

According to the Sun, United will vie with Arsenal to sign the Netherlands international in January for around £17 million. The story also carries quotes from a reported PSV source, who claims that, “It looks certain that he will leave in January. The only question is where?

“It looks like Manchester United or Arsenal—they are both very keen.”

The quotes contradict previous comments from both PSV and Strootman’s agent that strongly suggested that the player would remain with the Dutch side until at least the end of the season.

Talk of Manchester United’s interest in Arsenal’s unsettled winger Theo Walcott is growing, with the Guardian becoming the latest outlet to claim that Sir Alex Ferguson is keen on a January move for the England international.

According to the Guardian’s story, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City and Juventus are also interested in Walcott, who has just six months remaining on his contract at the Emirates. It is believed that both Arsenal and Walcott will resist attempts for a transfer next month, however.

The Gunners will be loathed to lose another player to one of their rivals following Robin van Persie’s move to Manchester United, while Walcott could earn significantly more from a free transfer.

Finally, after United’s interest in young Hamburg defender Jonathan Tah was reported earlier this week, Metro now claims that Ferguson is ready to make a move. United are said to be ahead of both Bayern Munich and Arsenal in the battle to sign the 16-year-old center back for a compensation fee of around £300,000. Tah, who also qualifies for the Ivory Coast, has represented Germany at Under-17 level.