Wilfried Zaha is NOT training with Crystal Palace today after handing in transfer request amid Everton interest
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WILFRIED ZAHA is NOT training with Crystal Palace today after handing in a transfer request amidst interest from Everton.
The Toffees are set to up their bid for the Ivorian winger, 26, and are willing to pay him around £200,000-a-week.
Now, Zaha appears to be forcing the Eagles' hand, going AWOL from training having already handed in an official request to leave.
SunSport exclusively revealed the Toffees had first put together a £100million package to sign the former Manchester United winger.
Goodison Park chief Marco Silva offered £65m up front plus two players - Cenk Tosun and James McCarthy.
Palace boss Roy Hodgson rejected that offer and looks to be holding out for around £120m for Zaha.
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It's claimed Everton will go back to the drawing board and look to launch an improved offer.
In the meantime, they are taking a look at PSV Eindhoven star Steven Bergwijn - who they see as an ideal alternative to Zaha.
Everton have already seen a £30m bid for Arsenal winger Alex Iwobi turned down this summer.
The Gunners themselves had been chasing the Ivorian star all summer, before seemingly giving up in their pursuit and turning to ex-Lille man Nicolas Pepe in a £72m deal.
Manchester United had also been linked with Zaha this summer - with the winger spotted training in a Red Devils top.
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Meanwhile, Chelsea are dark horses to play the long game and beat their Premier League rivals to the signing of Zaha.
Reports claimed the Blues are set to use Michy Batshuayi - on loan at Palace last season - as bait in order to land the Ivorian next summer.
Chelsea are currently in the midst of a transfer ban and are unable to sign Zaha - or anyone else - until July 2020 at the earliest.