Dalglish makes approach for £10m starlet

Kenny Dalglish has made his opening move for Wilfried Zaha after making a personal call to Crystal Palace manager Dougie Freedman.

Liverpool are in the running to sign the £10million-rated forward having kept tabs on the England Under-19 international for 18 months.

And Sportsmail can reveal that Dalglish has contacted Freedman with regards to the Anfield club's interest in Zaha.

During the phone call, Dalglish asked the Eagles manager more about the 19-year-old's character than his footballing ability.

Dalglish's contact is a precursor to Liverpool's attempts to lure Zaha to Merseyside this month.

Sportsmail can also reveal that Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has also spoken to Freedman about Zaha and that Manchester City's Roberto Mancini is a big admirer of the player.

But Ferguson feels an immediate move to the top-flight for Zaha would be too premature.

Palace fully expect Liverpool to initiate official contact with them in the coming days as they look to win the race for the teenage sensation.

Sportsmail revealed yesterday how Newcastle were set to open talks with the Selhurst Park club over their interest in Zaha.

Freedman has been assured by co-owner Steve Parish that Zaha will not leave south London until at least after the Carling Cup semi-final second leg against Cardiff on January 24.

And booking their first trip to Wembley since 1997 could help Freedman hold on to Zaha until at least the summer.

But failure to reach the final could see Palace cash-in on the teenager - who only recently signed a five-and-a-half year contract - ahead of the transfer deadline.

Source: Daily Mail

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