---
title: "Arsenal: Club still keen on signing Wilfried Zaha despite Nicolas Pepe deal"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/arsenal-club-still-keen-on-signing-wilfried-zaha-despite-nicolas-pepe-deal/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Uways Nisar"
section: "Arsenal Football Club"
published: "2019-08-01T14:35:16Z"
modified: "2019-08-01T14:35:16Z"
---

# Arsenal: Club still keen on signing Wilfried Zaha despite Nicolas Pepe deal

**[Wilfried Zaha](https://inews.co.uk/sport/football/wilfried-zaha-arsenal-transfer-news-latest-nicolas-pepe/) is still an Arsenal target in this summer’s transfer window despite the fact the Gunners are close to completing a deal for Lille winger Nicolas Pepe, [according to i News.](https://inews.co.uk/sport/football/wilfried-zaha-arsenal-transfer-news-latest-nicolas-pepe/)**

Pepe is due to join Arsenal for a club-record fee of £72m, however, a deal for Zaha remains in the picture if [Arsenal](https://inews.co.uk/sport/football/wilfried-zaha-arsenal-transfer-news-latest-nicolas-pepe/) can agree on a deal that satisfies both themselves and Crystal Palace.

Arsenal have already had a bid worth around [£40m](https://inews.co.uk/sport/football/wilfried-zaha-arsenal-transfer-news-latest-nicolas-pepe/) rejected for the 26-year-old Zaha this summer, with Crystal Palace keen to fetch around [£80m](https://metro.co.uk/2019/06/25/crystal-palace-demand-80m-arsenal-transfer-target-wilfried-zaha-10064524/) for the Ivory Coast international.

![](https://cdn.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/THE-BREAKDOWN.png)

Links with Zaha have been going on all summer long, with the Gunners said to have made the winger their primary target, [according to the Sky Sports Transfer Talk podcast (via The Daily Star).](https://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/795301/Arsenal-transfer-news-Wilfried-Zaha-Crystal-Palace-Nicolas-Pepe-Lille) However, due to the ability to [structure a deal for Pepe with Lille,](https://www.skysports.com/transfer/news/11662/11772087/nicolas-pepe-qa-how-can-arsenal-afford-lille-winger-and-what-about-wilfried-zaha) Arsenal seemingly switched targets.

Zaha enjoyed his best goal contributing season with Crystal Palace in the Premier League last season, as [he netted 10 goals and assisted a further 10](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/wilfried-zaha/leistungsdaten/spieler/145988/plus/0?saison=2018). Meanwhile, Pepe’s [22 goals and 11 assists](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/french-ligue-one/top-scorers) made him one of the highest goal contributing players in Ligue 1.

Signing Zaha and Pepe would be a huge positive and almighty upgrade on Arsenal’s current options of [Henrikh Mkhitaryan](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/henrikh-mkhitaryan/leistungsdaten/spieler/55735/plus/0?saison=2018) and [Alex Iwobi](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/alex-iwobi/leistungsdaten/spieler/242631/plus/0?saison=2018), who only contributed 9 goals between them last season.

However, off the pitch, a move for both players would be the biggest statement of intent from the new-look [management structure](https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/arsenal/arsenal-consider-edu-as-new-director-of-football-a4033291.html) in North London. Following the fall out from Arsenal’s [‘we care do you’ campaign](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48979800), [Josh Kroenke](https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/josh-kroenke-tells-arsenal-fans-18349494) told Arsenal fans to ‘be excited’. perhaps things could be on the up.

![](https://cdn.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Verdict.png)

Pepe and Zaha looked unlikely at the start of this summer’s transfer window due to the club’s apparent [£45m budget](https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/9455985/arsenal-transfer-budget-emery/). However, if both can be brought to the Emirates in the next few days, an attacking line already boasting two strikers who hit double figures in the Premier League will have got a lot stronger.

***How exciting would signing Zaha and Pepe be? Join the discussion by commenting below…***