Ferguson in pole position to secure knock-down deal for Zaha - Irish Independent

MANCHESTER UNITED manager Alex Ferguson has stayed back from his squad's warm weather training in Qatar, putting him in position to help tie up a deal for Crystal Palace's Wilfried Zaha.

Palace's negotiating position has been weakened by the absence of bids to challenge United's opening offer, which is understood to be around 5m with 5m add-ons. The low offer for a player Palace would expect to command at least 12m for has left them acutely aware that there would be discontent from their fans if they accept such a bid for the winger.

Asked last night if a price had been agreed, Palace chairman Steve Parish said: "I'm not going to answer."

But his comments point to a loan-back deal, as Parish did make an unequivocal pledge to his club's fans that Zaha would be playing for Palace through until the end of the season. "Right now, he's a Crystal Palace player and he'll definitely be playing for us until the end of May whatever happens. I've said it countless times – there's no way the player is going to leave the club in January."

It is unclear whether Ferguson met Zaha in London on Sunday night, after United's game at Tottenham. Ferguson is known to be attending a Manchester United Foundation round-table dinner while his players are away.

The English FA yesterday contacted Ferguson asking him to explain the comments he made to the media about referee's assistant Simon Beck.

Ferguson is unlikely to face punishment for his comments about the linesman who did not spot a penalty-box infringement on Wayne Rooney at White Hart Lane – despite West Ham manager Sam Allardyce being charged for his comments at Old Trafford last week.

While Allardyce made a clear reference to the referee favouring United in the FA Cup third round replay by suggesting he gave decisions based on who was the home team, Ferguson said the linesman had a bad game and they had suffered against him in the past.

If he had said, 'he always gives decisions against us,' then he would have been punished. He appears to have just about stayed on the safe side of the line.

- Ian Herbert

Irish Independent