CRYSTAL PALACE MANAGER Roy Hodgson has dismissed speculation linking Wilfried Zaha with Borussia Dortmund, insisting the Eagles have not received any approach for the winger.
The Bundesliga leaders have reportedly identified Zaha as the man to replace Christian Pulisic at Signal Iduna Park.
The United States international will join Chelsea at the end of the 2018-19 season and Dortmund are reportedly willing to break their transfer record in a €58 million swoop for the Palace man.
However, Hodgson says there has been no conversations between the two clubs and is confident Zaha – who signed a new five-year deal in August 2018 – will remain at Selhurst Park.
“We don’t know [about] that,” he told a media conference when quizzed about the rumours.
“There has been absolutely no dialogue whatsoever between Borussia Dortmund and Crystal Palace Football Club.
“If I am going to comment every time a club is linked with Wilf Zaha, I will be talking about it for a long time.
“Wilf signed a long-term contract with Crystal Palace. .
I’d be very surprised if there were any clubs out there who wouldn’t think he’s very good, but that doesn’t mean to say they are going to try and buy him.”
Hodgson has regularly had to deal with transfer speculation surrounding Zaha, who has become an integral part of the side since his appointment as Eagles boss in September 2017.
Earlier this month the former England manager had to play down reports Chinese Super League club Dalian Yifang had made an eye-watering offer to land the Ivory Coast international.
Zaha was also keen to play down speculation of a move to China, saying he was “flattered” by the offer but remained fully focused on the Eagles.
The 26-year-old has struggled to replicate his previous form this campaign, scoring just three goals and adding a further two assists in the Premier League.
However, such is his influence on the side, Palace went over two years without winning a game when Zaha wasn’t in the team before their 1-0 victory over Leicester in December.
The south London club are currently 15th in the Premier League, five points clear of the relegation zone.
Next up for the Eagles is an FA Cup fourth round tie against Tottenham at Selhurst Park on Saturday before a trip to Southampton in the Premier League on Wednesday.
Just over a week out from the 2019 Six Nations openers, Murray Kinsella and Gavan Casey are joined by Bernard Jackman to look at Ireland’s bid for another Grand Slam:
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You liat the KO at 14:30…. isn’t it 15:00? I’m booked in for a full head of highlights at 1 and won’t make a half 2 kick off……
@Bungee Aky: no it’s been changed to 2:30! You’d wanna tell the hairdresser to get a move on
@Boo Radley: you can’t rush perfection
Anybody got an update on the Bill Johnston move to Ulster? Asking for a friend.
@Jim Demps: is your friend Rochelle?
@Bungee Aky: don’t be silly Rochelle has no friends
@Jim Demps: is it a case of use it or lose it.
@Chris Mc: I’m all for it, hope it’s happening. It’d be a great move for him, Ulster and for munster.
@Jim Demps: I’m not sure how it’s good for munster but he does need rugby at this stage.
@Chris Mc: no point in having a 28, 26, 23 and 22 year old all vying for the same position. If Johnston moves on we’ve got a good balance there. At the moment with carbery the same age as him Johnston isn’t going to be given a fair chance so a move will suit him. For munster they can break in Ben Healy and give him the exposure as a young talent. It’s too easy for people to look at Johnston and say he was never given a chance but you can’t ignore his injuries. Two dislocated shoulders and a broken leg for a 22 year old is an awful lot of injuries and it’s bound to slow down his progression. Van Graan has shown that he will give young talent the chance it needs and I’d expect that to continue.
@Jim Demps: fair enough.
@Jim Demps: ‘exposure as a young talent’
When are you going to see what happens at Munster??
@Andrew H: I see it every game I go to Andrew. I’ve seen wycherley, loughman, Shane Daly, Gavin Coombes, o Connor and more all excel. You’re just using Bill Johnston as a tired old excuse to beat munster with. Too easy to compare young lads to Ryan and larmour, once in a generation talents who have as much international as club games under their belt. Try comparing them to their peers, Conor o brien to goggin, josh Murphy to wycherley, abdaladze to loughman and the picture might be a bit clearer for you.
2:30pm? My ticket says 3pm
@Thomyk: game will be over by then and Munsters season finished.
@Bungee Aky: could be right there lad , win r lose it’s supporting them that matters
@Thomyk: naw, nothing beats winning, you just forgot that it’s been so long
@Bungee Aky: won last Saturday pal , and I’m fairly sure we won a few games this season to, so maybe your talking through your anus now ?
Are you two done? Now up to your rooms and do your homework and leave your phones down.
@Thomyk: winning wars not battles
@Bungee Aky: grow a brain
Should be a belter and intimacy of the RDS for such a big game is again great as opposed to 3/4 full Aviva. Re KO info came out earlier for 2.30 KO on PRO14 Twitter
“Semi-Final KO Update: @leinsterrugby v @Munsterrugby to kick off at 14:30 on Saturday May 18 – live on @eirSport & @PremierSportsTV
#GuinnessPRO14”
@mrbryanrussell: if lowe plays it could be a rout
@Eoin Murphy: don’t think so, one thing is for certain let’s hope they don’t get sucked in like last time and focus on getting the job done. Should be a great match hopefully JVdF is back in the squad too as well as Joey
Will be tough for Leinster. Either they’ll all be hungover after winning the European cup, or in a sad shitty mood with no desire to play.
@sup: They’re highly motivated to do the double and if they lose to Saracens their determination will be even greater to win a trophy this season.