Sky Sports News reporter: Arsenal to make fresh bid for 26-year-old
Arsenal haven't given up hope of signing Wilfried Zaha this summer, according to reporter Kaveh Solhekol
Arsenal are refusing to accept defeat in their bid to sign Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha this summer, according to Sky Sports News reporter Kaveh Solhekol.
The Gunners have been linked with a move to sign the Ivory Coast international throughout the summer transfer window but a deal has failed to materialise so far.
Arsenal were widely reported to have made a £40m bid for the former Manchester United midfielder but Crystal Palace swiftly rejected the approach from their London rivals.
The Eagles are thought to be unwilling to sell Zaha but Crystal Palace would consider doing business if Arsenal were to double their bid for the Ivorian forward.
Unai Emery has a limited transfer budget this summer after Arsenal finished outside the top four in the Spanish head coach’s first season in charge in north London.
However, Sky Sports News reporter Solhekol claimed that Arsenal are still interested in a potential deal to sign the Palace winger before deadline day next month.
“What we’re being told is that we should expect Arsenal to push again for Zaha in the coming days,” Solhekol told Sky Sports’ Transfer Talk podcast.
“Since he’s come back from the Africa Cup of Nations in the past few days, he’s asked to leave Crystal Palace.
“We’re being told that Zaha is Emery’s number one target. We’re being told Emery is desperate to sign him.
“It comes down to making an offer that Palace will accept. Palace aren’t under pressure to sell him.
“They wouldn’t stand in his way if he wanted to leave to play for a Champions League club such as Real Madrid, Barcelona, PSG, Manchester City or Liverpool were trying to sign him.”
Zaha has scored 35 times in 180 games in all competitions over the past five seasons at the south east London side.
The Gunners finished in fifth place in the Premier League table last term before Arsenal lost 4-1 to Chelsea FC in the Europa League final.
