Arsenal could be presented with the opportunity to try and sign Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha this summer.
That is because the Ivory Coast international, who has scored 11 goals in 29 Premier League appearances this term, has potentially opened the door on leaving the Selhurst Park club this summer.
Zaha has revealed that he believes he is ready to have “another shot” at playing for one of the Premier League’s leading lights after a disappointing spell at Manchester United several years ago.
But now that he has matured, grown into a seasoned Premier League player and proven to be one of the best out-and-out wingers that the league has to offer, he has opened the door for clubs to potentially test Palace’s resolve this season and try and tempt him away from the soon-to-be managerless club.
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Talking to The Face, as quoted by the Express, Zaha said: “I feel like I can have another shot at the top teams, because my dream is to win things.
“I’m good enough to go out there and compete with the best.
“If the opportunity came, I wouldn’t turn it down, because I feel like I deserve it. It’s so I can show my kids: ‘This is what daddy won’.”
Although Arsenal may not be in the same bracket as the likes of Manchester City, Chelsea, Liverpool and United in battling to win trophies at this moment in time, the Gunners will certainly be looking to take a step towards that level next season, with huge changes planned at the Emirates Stadium over the coming months.
football.london understands that the Gunners are going to be on the hunt for at least five new summer signings, with manager Mikel Arteta determined to make the necessary changes to his squad that will make them a lot more competitive than they have been this season.
Although a lot of the business they are able to conduct will depend on player exits, there is going to be some wriggle room for Arteta to strengthen his squad, with signing a creative, attacking player poised to be high on his wish list.
Martin Odegaard, currently on loan from Real Madrid, is the man that the Gunners want to keep hold of, either on loan for another season or on a permanent deal, but that all rests on whether or not he will be allowed to leave Madrid and what price they would be demanding.
The same, of course, has to be said for Zaha, with Palace unlikely to part with their star asset easily, especially after losing fellow architect-in-chief Eberechi Eze to a long-term injury earlier this week.
But if Zaha, who is currently valued at £40million by transfermarkt, is open to a move and Palace are willing to let him go, Arsenal could jump at the chance to get a deal done, as they were very keen on signing him in the summer of 2019 under Unai Emery.
Earlier this year, Emery opened up on his plan to try and bring Zaha to north London, only for those above him to prefer a move for Nicolas Pepe.
“I usually want to sign first the players I know there,” Emery exclusively told football.london. “When we played against Crystal Palace, [Wilfried] Zaha showed he was a very good player.
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“I also think Nicolas Pepe is a very good player. When you make the decision you have to decide how easy the adaption will be of some players.
“I was thinking the adaption was easier for Zaha because he was playing in the Premier League and you didn’t know exactly how fast Nicolas Pepe can adapt to the Premier League because I know you can need some time to adapt.
“I was thinking at this time that the adaption of Zaha was probably easier and faster than Pepe.”