Arsenal’s winger hunt
Rumours of Arsenal’s interest in Zaha’s services have been mounting of late, as the Gunners look to piece together a squad capable of reestablishing themselves in the Premier League’s top-4.
Unai Emery and co. are known to be on the lookout for reinforcements out wide, with a rake of wingers having already been touted as potential arrivals at the Emirates this summer.
Yannick Carrasco and Ryan Fraser, meanwhile, have been the pair most persistently-linked.
However, after seemingly encountering problems in moves for both the Dalian Yifang and Bournemouth stars, Arsenal appear to have switched their attentions firmly to Zaha.
Palace standout Zaha enjoyed a superb campaign last time out, notching 10 goals and 10 assists across 34 Premier League appearances.
Wilfried Zaha celebrates after scoring during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Crystal Palace. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images)
Recent reports, though, have insisted that the explosive Ivorian has set his sights on a Selhurst Park departure this summer.
Not only that, but Zaha’s main suitors, Arsenal, are said to be the 26-year-old’s club of choice.
Significantly, the Eagles’ attacker is known to be a life-long fan of the Gunners:
Arsenal knocked back
As such, it came as little surprise when Arsenal’s opening offer for Zaha arrived this past Monday.
The bid, though, was worth just £40 million:
Not only did Crystal Palace reject the proposal on the part of their fellow Londoners out of hand, but the Eagles’ hierarchy were said to have been left ‘incensed’ and ‘furious’.
£70m cut-off point
Arsenal, though, are not thought to have been deterred, with a follow-up bid expected to be forthcoming imminently.
And Kaveh Solhekol has this evening provided an update on the situation. which the Gunners’ faithful will no doubt be thrilled to hear.
The Sky Sports reporter suggests that Arsenal could in fact raise their bid for Zaha as high as £70 million.
‘A pinch of salt’
Significantly, it was also added that Unai Emery likely has considerably more than the rumoured £45 million transfer budget at his disposal to bring in new players this summer: