Crystal Palace have reportedly slapped a £100 million asking price on Wilfried Zaha, who is a target for Arsenal this summer.
According to a report by Daily Mail, Arsenal have been told the price they need to pay in order to secure the services of Wilfried Zaha in this summer’s transfer window. The Gunners need to shell out £100 million to sign the former Manchester United winger from Crystal Palace.
Zaha has been a player reborn since sealing a return to Crystal Palace from Manchester United. In the four years that he has been with the Eagles in his second coming, the 26-year-old has been the single most pivotal player for the South Londoners, so much so that they have often struggled to be competitive in his absence.
The 2018-19 season saw Zaha add a tangible return to add more weight behind his importance to his side, with 10 goals and as many assists in 34 Premier League appearances, leading Palace to a credible 12th placed finish. His exploits though, have attracted Arsenal.
The Gunners were one of the most exciting sides at times, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette wreaking havoc in the final third. But, beyond the duo, there was very little in terms of tangible contribution. Another factor that posed a concern was the fact that Arsenal were barely effective in the wide areas, owing to the lack of a natural winger.
As a result, Arsenal have reportedly been looking at various wingers in order to bolster the flanks. To that end, Zaha is a viable target for the North Londoners to pursue, although his price tag is proving to be a major obstacle.
Crystal Palace have slapped a £100 million price tag on their prized asset, determined to not lose their crowning jewel, having already seen Aaron Wan-Bissaka join Manchester United this week. Having been so heavily dependent on the Ivory Coast international in recent seasons, even a £100 million inflow might not make up for his loss.
With Arsenal known to be operating on a limited budget after missing out on Champions League football, sanctioning a £100 million move for Zaha could well be out of the question. Selling Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to fund the move has been mooted, but that would open up its own can of worms.
For now, it appears as if signing Wilfried Zaha might be too pricey for Arsenal to pursue, if reports of a £100 million asking price indeed is true. It now remains to be seen if the Gunners can negotiate an agreeable amount to secure the services of the 26-year-old this summer, or if they are to turn their attention elsewhere again.
