Crystal Palace boss Ian Holloway has revealed the club made a last-ditch effort to sign Wilfried Zaha on loan from Manchester United on transfer deadline day, Sky Sports understands.
Zaha, 20, joined United for a reported fee of £15 million in January.
The England international, who bagged eight goals and nine assists in 46 league fixtures for Palace in the Championship last term, has yet to make an appearance for the English champions this season despite impressing on the club’s pre-season tour of Australia and the Far East.
However, the England international could make his debut for the Red Devils this week, with United scheduled to host Crystal Palace and Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday and Tuesdsay, respectively.
Speaking to reporters ahead of Saturday’s match at Old Trafford, Holloway confirmed he tried, and failed, to sign Zaha on loan on the final day of the summer transfer window.
“I think out of respect to them I knew damn well they wouldn’t do it,” said Holloway. “What would that look like? And there will be enough competitions to give him some games.
“I have been continually asking because the person who brought him isn’t there anymore.
“I think from Wilf’s point of view it would be much easier for Sir Alex to play him.
“David has just gone in and sometimes with Wilf it is a risk as he doesn’t always track back.
“But I think his career at Man United will be a success because of the boy that he is. David will select him at the right time, which is completely right.”
Now then, is it written in the stars for Zaha to make his Manchester United debut against his former club at Old Trafford? One can only hope.
Redknapp wants Adebayor
Queens Park Rangers manager Harry Redknapp hopes he can land Tottenham Hotspur striker Emmanuel Adebayor on loan this season.
Adebayor, who is currently training with the reserves, is out-of-favour with manager Andre Villas-Boas.
Sound familiar? Prior to leaving Manchester City, then-manager Roberto Mancini sent the Togo international to train with the reserves.
Shortly thereafter, Adebayor joined Spurs (permanently) for a fee of £5 million. Will the pattern continue? Well, QPR supporters and Harry Redknapp would not mind that at all.
“He’d be a great loan, that’s for sure,” said Redknapp.
“I don’t know what will happen with him. He’s a good player but it’s up to Tottenham, they have lots of good players.
“He can’t go on loan in the Premier League, he can only go into the Championship but whether he’d want to do that – it would be difficult I think.”
Adebayor scored a total of eight goals in 34 appearances in all competitions for Spurs last season.
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