‘If Arsenal can’t afford Wilfried Zaha, they can get lost’ – Simon Jordan says £40m bid for Crystal Palace forward is ‘a liberty’
Former Eagles owner has his say on the speculation surrounding the winger’s future at Selhurst Park
Simon Jordan has told Arsenal to pay up or shut up after they tabled a £40million bid for Crystal Palace star Wilfried Zaha.
The former Eagles owner has slammed the north London club for their conduct as they chase the 26-year-old’s signature, branding their cut-price offer ‘a liberty’.
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The Gunners made the bid on Monday, and it is claimed Palace immediately laughed it off as they believe the winger - who was on the scoresheet for Ivory Coast on Monday night - is worth more than double that fee.
Boyhood Arsenal fan Zaha is said to be keen to trade Sehurst Park for the Emirates Stadium this summer, but Unai Emery only has a transfer budget of around £40m this summer.
And, if they simply cannot afford to sign the Ivorian this summer, Jordan has told the Gunners where to go.
“This is a liberty,” said the talkSPORT pundit on Monday night’s Kick Off.
“As much as a £40m transfer becomes a liberty, this is a liberty.
“You’ve got Arsenal trading on a currency of trying to create division between the player and the football club.
“If you want to buy a player like Wilfried Zaha… if Mahrez can go to Manchester City for £60m, then Zaha can go for £60m to £80m to Arsenal.
“If they can’t afford him, they can’t afford him.”
Palace sold another of their best players, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, to Manchester United for £50million last week.
According to another talkSPORT pundit, Dean Saunders, Zaha is worth DOUBLE that fee as he is 'probably the best player outside the Premier League’s top six’.
Speaking on Tuesday’s Sports Breakfast, the former Wales striker said: “How can they throw in a £40m bid when Aaron Wan-Bissaka has just gone to Manchester United for £50m as a right-back?
“Outside the top six, Zaha is probably the best player in the Premier League.
“He’s got to be valued at miles more than that as a winger/striker/number ten, wherever he wants to play.
“He goes past people for fun and he’s played great over the last couple of years. He’s got to be worth £100m.”