February 4 2015

Wilfried Zaha (Photo: Andy Roberts)

Crystal Palace co-chairman and co-owner Steve Parish has admitted that Manchester United could recoup the transfer fee they paid for Wilfried Zaha, writes John Mortimer.

Zaha had been on a season-long loan at Selhurst Park. But the Eagles made the transfer permanent on the final day of the January transfer window in a £3million, five-and-a-half-year deal, which was around £7million less than United signed the winger for in 2013.

The initial fee that Palace have paid to United includes a sell-on fee and appearance add-ons. And Parish said: "There is a big sell-on fee for United so we will be very happy if eventually they get their money back."

Palace also recruited Yaya Sanogo, Jordon Mutch, Shola Ameobi, Pape Souare and Lee Chung-yong in January. And while Parish he is happy with the deals they have been able to do, he says manager Alan Pardew must now "turn that into victories".

Pardew began with four consecutive victories, the last of which was a 3-2 win over Southampton in the FA Cup fourth round. That run was ended in the 1-0 home defeat to Everton.

Palace will hope to bounce back to winning ways this weekend when they travel to bottom side Leicester City and Bet365 have priced The Eagles at 11/5 in the Premier League betting to win at the King Power Stadium.

Sanogo, Mutch and Zaha are all likely to feature from the start. Shola Ameobi could be on the bench. Lee was signed with a slight injury that will keep him out for another few weeks and Souare has only just arrived for training with the squad after representing Senegal at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Zaha will hope his new deal in London will help rediscover the form that saw him leave London for Manchester. So far this season the winger has made 16 appearances, scoring one goal and providing a single assist.

This season has seen a relatively poor return from a player that showed such talent in his first spell at Selhurst Park. Zaha is 11/1 to open the scoring on Saturday and 4/1 to find the back of the net in the 90 minutes.

The 22-year-old made his England debut in 2012 after he had lit up the Championship with his wing play and goals. In his first spell with Palace, Zaha made 142 appearances, scored 18 goals and contributed with 28 assists. Pardew will hope he channel the best of a talent that has so far been hit and miss since in the Premier League.

The Eagles are in 13th place in the table, nine points behind 10th-placed Stoke City, but on current form could be set for a top-10 finish. The Eagles can be found at 14/1 to finish in the top half.