Unai Emery asks Arsenal board to break the bank and make transfer swoop for Crystal Palace star Wilfried Zaha
UNAI EMERY will ask Arsenal to break the bank for Wilfried Zaha.
Gunners boss Emery had his transfer budget limited to £45million after failing to reach the Champions League.
But he will push for more cash to land No1 attacking target Zaha, 26, seen as central to his summer rebuild.
Crystal Palace’s Zaha is a boyhood Arsenal fan, would be expected to cost at least £55m after his consistent form in the Premier League since rejoining Palace five years ago.
Emery, who may be forced to raise extra funds by selling fringe players, would also need to persuade the 26-year-old to play in the Europa League and fight for a way back to the Champions League.
Zaha has admitted he wants to test himself at the top level – but at Arsenal he would at least have the platform to help the club rejoin the elite.
Arsenal are also keen on getting homegrown talent into a squad that will lose Aaron Ramsey on a free to Juventus.
PUSH THE BOAT OUT
Zaha has switched countries to play for Ivory Coast but he is still classed as homegrown on Premier League quotas.
He is currently in Egypt for the Africa Cup of Nations where he is due to play in their opening game against South Africa on Monday.
Arsenal legend Ray Parlour has urged them “to push the boat out” in the transfer window if they have hope to reclaim a Champions League spot next season.
He said: “They are a long way behind Liverpool and Manchester City. Maybe they have to spend a bit more money.
“You see what Liverpool did – they needed a centre-back and in comes Virgil van Dijk. Nobody mentions how much he cost now. The same with Alisson in goal.
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“It’s all about investment. As much as I hate to say that money is everything, but it’s always gone that way.
“Sometimes you have to go beyond your budget, absolutely.
“If you can attract a player and you know he is very keen to go, sometimes you have to push the boat out a little but further and take the gamble.”
Emery has also moved for £25m-rated Celtic left-back Kieran Tierney, 22, and will look to conclude the deal if funds allow.