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Wilfried Zaha transfer: Former Crystal Palace boss Sam Allardyce says Arsenal must ‘stop messing around’ in pursuit of forward
Former Crystal Palace boss Sam Allardyce says Arsenal need to stop messing around in their pursuit of Wilfried Zaha.
The Gunners had a £40m bid rejected for the 26-year-old earlier this month, with the Eagles said to be holding out for a figure closer to £80m.
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Allardyce, who worked with Zaha during a short stint at Selhurst Park in 2017, says time is running out as we approach the final few weeks of the transfer window.
"Pay the money. Time's running out and the window is going to shut," said Allardyce.
"If Manchester United are having to pay £90m for a centre-half, which is what they've been quoted for [Harry] Maguire, then this £70/80m price tag being put on Zaha is well worth it in light of the market we're operating in today.
"Wilfried is proven at this level and he'd be a massive success at Arsenal. He's ready, but Arsenal need to stop messing around like they are the minute."
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Allardyce, speaking on the Alan Brazil Breakfast Show, believes the former Manchester United man needs a new challenge and must move on sooner rather than later - or risk never getting another big move.
"Wilfried is in his prime - there's not too many players like him about," he added.
"Steve [Parish] won't like me saying this, because I've got a lot of respect for the man and for what he's done for Crystal Palace, but if Wilf doesn't leave very shortly then he never will.
"He's ready now to move on now, so Arsenal just need to get the deal done."
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