Wilfried Zaha says he is fully focused on Crystal Palace despite transfer links with Arsenal and Chelsea.
The Ivory Coast international scored his fourth goal in as many games on Tuesday night as Palace drew 1-1 against Brentford at Selhurst Park. Zaha’s beautiful curling effort gave the home side the lead after 59 minutes but Yoane Wissa would pop up to snatch a point late on for the Bees.
Zaha continues to be a topic of discussion during every transfer window that has come and gone in recent years and this summer has been no different. The 29-year-old netted a career-high of 14 league goals last season for Palace, who finished 12 th in the Premier League in Patrick Vieira’s first season in charge.
READ MORE: Paul Merson says Wilfried Zaha would be a 'good signing' for Chelsea
With Thursday’s transfer deadline day fast approaching, Zaha has been heavily linked with London rivals Chelsea and Arsenal but the winger admits he is not distracted by rumours.
Zaha said: “It’s not been difficult at all [to remain focused]. I’ve just been focused on Palace and every game. So it’s not been difficult at all.
“I go into training, I get on with it and I enjoy it. So I’ve been focused. It’s massive, we’ve got a massive understanding everyone literally understands me. It’s different, it’s hard to explain but it feels like a family here. That’s the understanding we have.”
Chelsea have been heavily linked with Zaha but football.london understands that a deal between the Blues and Palace for the winger is now very unlikely. This may leave the door open for Arsenal to swoop in as the Gunners search for a winger following Nicolas Pepe’s loan move to Lille.
Arsenal have also been linked with Wolves winger Pedro Neto but a move now seems “highly improbable”, according to The Athletic. Villarreal’s Yeremy Pino is another said to be on the Gunners shortlist.
Palace boss Patrick Vieira revealed there has been no approach for Zaha from any other club. When asked if he was confident Zaha would stay at Palace beyond transfer deadline day, Vieira said: “I didn’t even put that in my head, I didn’t even ask myself that question.
“I am working with him every day and there is nothing crossing my mind that something like that will happen. The only thing he is showing is competitiveness on the field, doing well for this football club that he loves very much.
“There is nothing coming from any other club. Wilfried is playing football, he is enjoying his football and, as a manager of the chairman, there is nothing from anybody. We are in a period where there is a lot of things going on in the papers and regarding Wilfried there is nothing true in that. This is the only thing I can tell you.”
After Zaha scored for Palace against Brentford, Vieira added: "Today we needed something special to score goals and Wilfried delivered. He's used to it (speculation) and when you look at his smile when he scored that goal, it's saying everything. I think the smile on his face shows how happy he is in this football club."
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