Premier League star ‘rejects’ chance to play with Cristiano Ronaldo ‘to sign for Arsenal’

Premier League star Wilfried Zaha has reportedly turned down the chance to play with Cristiano Ronaldo in order to sign with Arsenal in the summer.

The Crystal Palace forward is out of contract at the end of the season with a departure from Selhurst Park seemingly likely.

It is understood that the Eagles are set to offer Zaha a lucrative new contract and the Ivory Coast international .

Speaking last week, transfer expert Fabrizio Romano gave an update, he said: “I’m told Wilfried Zaha has not made a final decision on the future yet. Crystal Palace are offering him a very important contract; he will decide in the next weeks.

“I’m not aware of a concrete proposal or yet, Bayern have different priorities now.”

Zaha hasn’t been on top form all season for Palace but the 30-year-old has still managed to contribute six goals and two assists in 24 Premier League matches.

And Spanish publication Nacional claims that Zaha ‘rejects’ the chance to play with former Manchester United superstar Ronaldo at Al-Nassr and decided ‘to sign for Arsenal’.

The Gunners are having a brilliant season in the Premier League with Mikel Arteta leading his side four points clear at the top of the standings, although second-placed Manchester City do have a game in hand.

Despite concentrating on the Premier League run-in, the report adds that Arteta ‘does not neglect planning the squad for the next campaign’ with Zaha ‘among his objectives’.

The Arsenal boss ‘wants to reinforce’ his forward line further still after signing Leandro Trossard from Brighton in the January transfer market and ‘that is why he has been interested in the Crystal Palace star’.

Arsenal ‘finally hope to achieve their goal’ of signing Zaha after coming close to getting a transfer over the line in the past and a potential free transfer makes his signing all the more appealing.

The Gunners have been able to ‘promise him an ambitious project’ with ‘an important role’ in Arteta’s side as they look to build on their successes this campaign.

Catalan giants Barcelona have offered Zaha a contract but Arsenal can pay a ‘much higher salary’ and Barca have now ‘ruled out’ his arrival at the Camp Nou.