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This article is part of Football FanCast’s Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news…
As reported by The Times, Crystal Palace forward Wilfried Zaha has decided to part ways with his agent, Will Salthouse.
What’s the word, then?
Well, the report states that Zaha, 26, has decided to cut ties with his agent following Salthouse’s failure to secure his client a move away from Selhurst Park this summer.
The Times also mentions that the Ivory Coast international cites Salthouse’s relationship with Palace chairman Steve Parish as the reason behind the decision.
Zaha was reportedly left ‘devastated’ after his attempts to leave SE25 failed, amid transfer interest from Arsenal and Everton, although he has since appeared in all four of the Eagles’ Premier League games so far this season.
Bad news for Palace
While this news may seem fairly innocuous as far as Palace fans are concerned, it should be an update that worries them regarding their hopes of keeping the attacker at the club.
Salthouse seemingly shares a good relationship with Parish, as The Times states that the football agent has been known to invest in the same businesses as the Eagles supremo.
At first glance, it appears as if Zaha has made the decision to axe his agent due to his failure to move away – by assisting his client’s exit and weakening Palace in the process, Salthouse’s relationship with Parish could have been harmed.
But with Zaha now sacking Salthouse and presumably going on to hire someone without a connection to the club’s board – thus having no personal relations to protect or think about – a new, impartial representative would perhaps be more ruthless in helping the Ivorian get his wish of moving on.
Whenever players switch agents, the chances of a move always heighten – after all, agents earn part of their keep through commission on transfers – but having furthermore removed a representative who has a direct relationship with the Palace hierarchy, this represents a blow to the club’s chances of keeping Zaha.
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