Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha urged against joining Tottenham as contract talks loom

Wilfried Zaha has been urged to spurn interest from Tottenham Hotspur and sign a new contract with Crystal Palace. The Ivory Coast international still has another two-and-a-half years remaining on his current deal with the Selhurst Park club amid speculation over his long-term future.

The Sun understand Mauricio Pochettino is confident of luring the Ivory Coast international to north London this summer for a fee approaching £30m. The 24-year-old has netted six times for the relegation-threatened Eagles this term, the latest effort coming in a shock 2-1 win over Premier League champions elect Chelsea on Saturday (1 April).

In an effort to retain Zaha and to increase his value, Palace are plotting talks over a new contract once their top flight survival has been confirmed. Four straight wins has taken the club four points above the drop zone with a game in hand, with Sam Allardyce belatedly weaving his magic following his appointment in December.

Speaking to BBC Radio Five Live, chairman Steve Parish said of speculation linking Zaha with Tottenham: "We would love to keep Wilfried. We will sit down and talk to him as soon as we're safe and I am very hopeful of doing so. He added: "He doesn't have a release clause. I very much hope so [we keep him] and we look forward to sitting down as soon as possible to make that happen."

Speaking after the win at Stamford Bridge, Allardyce added: "Wilf is on a long contract Steve Parish tells me, so there is not that danger at the moment of losing him. I think he is starting to enjoy his football by his performances, I think you've seen that."

Injury to Harry Kane has once again exposed Tottenham's lack of firepower beyond the England international, though Pochettino's men have gone within seven points of Chelsea in his absence. Zaha would fill any obvious void in the Spurs squad but former striker Garth Crooks says they could do without any player of his type.

"There is a lot of talk about the Ivorian joining Spurs in the summer," Crooks, who won two FA Cups and the Uefa Cup with Tottenham, told BBC Sport. "An attractive move for the player I must admit. Who wouldn't want to add the possibility of playing Champions League football to his international career?

"However, may I suggest that Zaha, having had a disappointing period at Manchester United, takes a pause before considering White Hart Lane. Another season at Crystal Palace under the tutelage of Allardyce may be more beneficial to his overall development. Spurs have enough Fancy Dans in their line-up without adding to them. Palace, on the other hand, are in desperate need of flair and exuberance in an otherwise functional, but effective outfit. Still, if Zaha insists on a move to the Lane, who could blame him?"