Arsenal should have signed Wilfried Zaha instead of Nicolas Pepe, former Crystal Palace chairman Simon Jordan believes.
The Gunners confirmed the transfer of Zaha’s international team-mate on a five-year contract, which saw them hand Lille a fee believed to be around £72million.
But Jordan believes it should have been Zaha at the Emirates, though suggested Arsenal’s bitter north London rivals would be better for him.
“I think he would like to have played for Arsenal, I think playing for Tottenham is a slightly better fit, but they are not in the market for him,” he told talkSPORT’s Breakfast Show.
And he explained why he thinks the Gunners missed a trick in not coughing up.
“Zaha is an established Premier League player.
“Wilf came out of my academy and part of the group of players I produced, who made his debut just after I left and he is a prestigious talent.
“He’s a proper player and now he has his head up, he’s starting to see things more on the pitch, making runs and scoring goals,” adding he’s worth as much as Riyad Mahrez, who Man City made their record signing last summer.
“In my view he’s every bit as good as Mahrez and if he’s £60m, then so is Wilfried Zaha.
“In this ridiculous market, he is worth the money and if Arsenal could have bolted on another £10m for extras like Champions League qualification, it would have put Palace to a question – £50m does not do that.”
Asked if he can still see a move happening, he said: “I still have doubts about whether he will, but I’m not sure it will be in this window.”
However, Lille defender Jose Fonte thinks Arsenal have a real gem on their hands in ‘incredible’ Pepe.
Speaking exclusively to talkSPORT, he said: “If he can reach the same level that he did last year in Lille, which I believe he will, I think Arsenal fans will be very happy.
Click Here: cheap kanken backpack
“He’s super quick, his left foot is silky, his 1v1 is second to none, he finishes really good, he takes penalties and free kicks.
“He’s a very accomplished player and I think Arsenal fans will be in for a treat.”