Crystal Palace reportedly reject improved Arsenal offer for Wilfried Zaha

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Arsenal have upped their bid for Crystal Palace flier Wilfried Zaha to £55 million plus £10 million in add-ons, according to the Independent.

They report that Reece Nelson has also been thrown into the mix for a season-long loan but Palace have snubbed the bid, saying it doesn’t come close to what they want.

Palace are perhaps keen on taking a young starlet from the Emirates Stadium in return on loan, and would also apparently like a permanent signing – such as Carl Jenkinson – too.

While the report says that there’s a feeling the deal will eventually get over the line because Zaha wants to leave, it’s clear that the clubs remain some way apart.

Arsenal don’t have the money to slap down a monster offer for Zaha on the table – Palace are looking for a deal that would break their club record – so they’re trying to edge it up gradually.

Unai Emery should keep Nelson around the club whether or not Zaha comes in – other players should be offered out if that’s the route the club chooses to go down, because he’s got so much ability and is ready to break through.

But with the days dwindling down before the window closes, it seems Arsenal aren’t much closer to meeting the valuation, even if they have made a bid that makes a mockery of their reported £40 million transfer budget.