Arsenal have the funds to potentially meet Crystal Palace’s £80 million valuation of Wilfried Zaha, according to Sky Sports reporter Kaveh Solhekol.
The Gunners are thought to be keen on bringing in Zaha this summer, seeing him as one of their primary transfer targets.
A new wide player is wanted and the Palace talisman would be a big signing for the north Londoners.
They have only bid £40 million to date, however, which the Eagles swiftly rejected.
They rate Zaha at double that amount, which reports have claimed could be a potential stumbling block for Arsenal.
Despite rumours that they are lacking the money to up their bid, Solhekol told The Transfer Show that this is untrue, although £70 million is their limit with Zaha:
Interestingly, we have read that Arsenal’s transfer budget this summer, because they have missed out on the Champions League, is just £45m, plus what they can raise from selling players.
We have kept reading that, £45m. People are thinking ‘why are Arsenal trying to sign a player who Crystal Palace are saying is worth £80m, when they only have £45m?’
What I have been told is that it suits Arsenal that people think they only have £45m, because when they get into negotiations over a player, the selling club is going to think Arsenal don’t have much money.
What I have been told is that this is a bit of a smokescreen and Arsenal can go up to £70m to buy Wilfried Zaha. £70m is the point at which they would walk away. A deal that would be worth £70m in total.
It will be interesting to see if Arsenal up their bid for Zaha significantly, or end up looking at alternatives.
Palace are desperate to keep hold of the 26-year-old, but his heart is believed to be set on a move to the Emirates.
