Zaha "ambition" hints at why Chelsea and Arsenal have hatched transfer plans

Both Chelsea and Arsenal are reportedly considering late bids for Wilfried Zaha.

The Ivory Coast international, 29, has just one year remaining on his Crystal Palace deal and it's unclear whether he will extend his stay at Selhurst Park. If his previous admission is anything to go by, he could be on the move before Thursday's transfer deadline.

Speaking in February 2021, then Palace manager Roy Hodgson revealed Zaha has the ambition to play in the Champions League. Chelsea can offer that after finishing third in the Premier League last term, while the Gunners are currently a Europa League outfit.

"Wilf Zaha will again be a name on many managers and sporting directors' lips and Wilf will retain his ambition of playing Champions League football and doing things we have not been able to give him while he has been playing here," said Hodgson when asked if Zaha will seek a transfer away from Selhurst Park in the summer of 2021.

Hodgson added: "He is good enough to play at other clubs, but also he is a player we would really like to keep here because he has been so important for us and he is very important to all the fans and everyone around the club."

There's no doubting Zaha's quality. He's scored three goals in as many Premier League games this season after finding the net 14 times in the competition last term. He's a three-time Palace Player of the Year and is vastly experienced with 450 games under his belt.

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Zaha has had his opportunity at a so-called 'Big Six' club before when he joined Manchester United in the summer of 2013. The winger failed to make the grade under David Moyes - playing just four games - and re-joined Palace 12 months later.

Much has changed since then, however. Zaha now has genuine Premier League experience - playing 281 games in the competition - and was even named its Player of the Month in April 2018. As such, it's not surprising both Chelsea and Arsenal are considering a move.

As reported by the Daily Mail, the Blues are genuinely interested in Zaha. It's believed that transfer will depend on whether they succeed in signing primary targets Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Barcelona and Antony Gordon of Everton before Thursday.

Arsenal, meanwhile, are in a similar position. They want to bring in another winger after loaning Nicolas Pepe to Nice. Their primary target is Pedro Neto of Wolves, yet they are struggling to meet the Midlands club's asking price. Zaha could be a more realistic option.

With Zaha turning 30 in November, his next contract could be the last big one of his professional career. It could also be his last chance to secure a move to one of England's biggest clubs. Palace previously demanded more than £100million for his signature when Arsenal were last interested in 2019, although it's unclear what their asking price will be this time around. According to Transfermarkt, Zaha is valued at £34.2m.

"Last year when I came over there was a lot of speculation about him," Palace manager Patrick Vieira recent told reporters. "I think you're always going to have this conversation in the window because of the quality of player he is, so we just have to deal with it... he loves being at this football club and there is no reason why that should change."