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Football London
Football London
Sport
Michael Mutch

Arsenal and Chelsea transfer claims made as interest in Crystal Palace talisman steps up

There are only three days left in the summer transfer window and the future of Crystal Palace talisman Wilfried Zaha remains uncertain.

The Ivory Coast international, who has played 433 times for the Eagles in two spells, is reportedly on the shortlist of two London rivals. Both Chelsea and Arsenal are said to be preparing late bids for the winger as a back-up option to other targets.

According to The Guardian, Chelsea have Zaha in mind but Barcelona striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang remains “their number one priority”. The Blues are also stepping up their attempts to sign Everton’s Anthony Gordon, with reports from Football Insider suggesting they are willing to offer Armando Broja, former Palace loanee Conor Gallagher and £25million to sign the 21-year-old.

READ MORE: 'Two big decisions went against' Palace vs Man City says chairman Steve Parish

Arsenal are said to be eyeing up transfer moves for Wolves’ Pedro Neto and Villarreal’s Yeremy Pino, reports the Express. Speaking on The Done Deal Show, transfer guru Dean Jones said: “They’re not the only two names they’re looking at [Neto and Pino]. In the background, there is Wilfried Zaha.

“That deal is not moving forward at the moment, but Zaha is definitely one of those players that ticks the boxes and that Arsenal have an eye on. We will have to wait and see if they go down that path, Zaha is obviously in red-hot form at the moment.”

After 14 goals in 33 Premier League appearances last term, Zaha has continued to shine with Eagles this season with three goals in as many games. However, the 29-year-old, who is in the last year of his contract with Palace, missed Saturday’s defeat to Manchester City after picking up a knock against Aston Villa a week before.

“Wilfried is not here, he is an important player for us,” said Palace boss Patrick Vieira after the final whistle at the Etihad Stadium. “I think Ebe [Eze], Jordan [Ayew] did really well, the front players. [Odsonne] Edouard I think had a really good game as well. Of course, you lose a little bit of pace when you don’t have Wilfried in the squad.”

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