Unai Emery asks Arsenal board to break the bank for Wilfried Zaha

Unai Emery will reportedly ask Arsenal board to break the bank for Crystal Palace star Wilfried Zaha. The Gunners failed to qualify for the Champions League leaving Emery with a budget of just £45m to improve his side this summer. Emery is attempting to raise extra transfer funds by offloading players. Zaha is currently in Egypt for the African Cup of Nations, preparing for his first group game for Ivory Coast against South Africa on Monday. Emery, meanwhile, will try to tempt his bosses to make an offer ready for his return with Zaha cost £55m. Arsenal legend Ray Parlour has urged them “to push the boat out” in the transfer window if they have hope to reclaim a Champions League spot next season. He said: “They are a long way behind Liverpool and Manchester City. Maybe they have to spend a bit more money. “You see what Liverpool did – they needed a centre-back and in comes Virgil van Dijk. Nobody mentions how much he cost now. The same with Alisson in goal. “It’s all about investment. As much as I hate to say that money is everything, but it’s always gone that way. “Sometimes you have to go beyond your budget, absolutely. "If you can attract a player and you know he is very keen to go, sometimes you have to push the boat out a little but further and take the gamble."

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