Arsenal set to rekindle interest in Premier League winger this summer

It’s been six years since Wilfried Zaha returned to Crystal Palace from Manchester United on a permanent basis, and almost every summer in the intervening period has seen him linked with a potential exit from Selhurst Park.

It would appear that this year is set to be no different, with perennial chasers Arsenal said to be sniffing around the forward once again.

Here’s everything you need to know…

What’s the story?

Online publication 90min have put out a fresh report suggesting that Arsenal are set to rekindle their interest in Crystal Palace talisman Wilfried Zaha.

The Gunners are understood to have failed with an effort to sign the 28-year-old in 2019, coming up short with a bid of £40 million that the Eagles laughed off immediately.

Instead, Arsenal opted to slurge £72 million on Nicolas Pepe – an impulse buy that has had mixed results, to say the least.

Fast forward to the present, however, and it would appear that Mikel Arteta is willing to pick up the baton and give chase for Zaha once more – and the Spaniard may just succeed where predecessor Unai Emery failed.

It is claimed that Palace would be willing to sell Zaha this time as they plot a summer revamp of their own in the coming months.

The only thing that could derail a deal, therefore, is that Arsenal aren’t exactly flush right now.

As such, they may have to sell off some of their deadwood before they make their move.

Do the bookies fancy it?

As a matter of fact, they do.

As of a couple of weeks ago, the Gunners were firm favourites to land Zaha at a price of 3/1.

This latest update is only likely to shorten the odds further.

Arsenal aren’t the only club in the running though, and a number of European giants are also catching the eye of bookmakers.

Real Madrid are priced at 5/1, Juventus and Chelsea at 9/1, and Manchester United at 10/1.

How likely is Zaha joining Arsenal?

At the present moment, they seem like his most likely destination by some distance.

If Palace are keen to cash-in, and if the Gunners are eager to bring him in, that’s half the battle won right there.

90min are insistent that previous suitors Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur are both unbothered by another plod through the rigmarole of a summer pursuit, and the player himself is said to be keen on staying in London, essentially ruling out a big European switch.

Taking all that into consideration, you would have to say that Arsenal are leading the race in this one.

What are the fans saying?

It would appear that there is a real split among Arsenal fans regarding a deal for Zaha.

@AfcJas0n tweeted: “I honestly can’t think of a worse signing for us than Zaha – would cost around £40m and we already have our wings sorted for the next ten years”.

@OmonileGunner tweeted: “Zaha is better than Pepe, Willian, and Reiss Nelson combined. He is direct, purposeful, creative, a nuisance to defenders and scores goals. He does not hide and loves to lead the attack line. Saka on the right, Zaha on the left and Odegaard would improve our attack. Buy him pls”.