Man Utd, Man City head-to-head for new English wonderkid Zaha

Manchester United and Manchester City have joined the battle for Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha. 

The next wonderkid from Crystal Palace

       The Manchester Evening News says Zaha has been on Sir Alex Ferguson’s radar ever since his sensational performance inspired Palace to a shock Carling Cup victory over United last November. 

       As a two-footed winger he is seen as a potential replacement for Nani if the Portuguese international is allowed to leave Old Trafford. 

     Ferguson is also considering Porto’s £40m-rated James Rodriguez, but Zaha would represent a much cheaper alternative. The England under-21 star could be available for around £15m. 

      That would also interest Roberto Mancini, with City already signing rising English talents Jack Rodwell and Scott Sinclair in the summer.

Due to earn first England cap soon.

Zaha, the Crystal Palace winger, has emerged as one of the most highly-rated young talents outside the Premier League and Roy Hodgson has rewarded his progress by ­promoting him from the under-21s for the friendly in Stockholm on Wednesday. 

    The 20 year-old has been watched frequently by scouts from Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City this season and last week Palace co-chairman Steve Parish insisted it would require bids of £20 million before the Championship club would consider selling him. 

       Zaha, who played in both legs of the England Under-21s’ Euro 2013 play-off against Serbia last month, was born in Ivory Coast and has been approached by head coach Sabri Lamouchi in an attempt to commit his future to the country but he is expected to play some part against Sweden. 

      He will replace Walcott, who has been forced to withdraw with a muscle injury sustained against Fulham on Saturday. Palace are now facing an increasingly difficult battle to ensure Zaha remains at Selhurst Park beyond the January transfer window.