July 2 2019

Wilfried Zaha

Former Crystal Palace chairman Simon Jordan says Arsenal are taking a "liberty" for trying to unsettle Wilfried Zaha.

The Gunners have reportedly tabled a £40m bid for Zaha which Palace instantly rebuffed as they value their talisman closer to around double that.

It comes days after Eagles right back Aaron Wan-Bissaka sealed a £50m switch to Manchester United and a forward of Zaha's pedigree would be worth considerably more.

Jordan reckons the Gunners cannot afford to sign Zaha and the low-ball offer is designed to force Palace to sell their prized asset.

"This is a liberty," said Jordan on his TalkSport show. "As much as a £40m transfer becomes a liberty, this is a liberty.

"You’ve got Arsenal trading on a currency of trying to create division between the player and the football club.

"If you want to buy a player like Wilfried Zaha… if [Riyad] Mahrez can go to Manchester City for £60m, then Zaha can go for £60m to £80m to Arsenal. If they can’t afford him, they can’t afford him."

Zaha scored in Ivory Coast’s 4-1 win over Namibia at the Africa Cup of Nations on Monday and refused to commit his future to the Selhurst Park club.

"I don’t know we’ll see in the future," he said. "I have no comment on it the only thing that’s on my mind now is trying to win this cup. I’m fixated on is how far we go in the tournament."

Zaha, who signed a five-year contract last year, seems desperate to engineer a move to North London by allowing his brother to tell the media that it would be a dream move.

Judicael Zaha told Sky Sports: "Given all that Wilfried has given to Crystal Palace to help them remain a Premier League club, I hope Palace will be able to see their way to agreeing a deal with Arsenal that allows Wilfried to realise his dream of playing European football for the club he’s supported since childhood.

"Wilfried will always hold Crystal Palace and their fans in the highest regard and all the support they have given means the world to him. It’s my brother’s dream though, to play for Arsenal."

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