Arsenal are expected to make an improved offer for Wilfried Zaha after their opening bid of £40 million was rejected by Crystal Palace.

The forward has told Palace that he wants to join their London rivals but his hopes have been hindered by the club’s £80 million valuation.

Palace are determined to keep him because of the impact the 26-year-old has had on helping them to retain their Premier League status in recent seasons. Last summer Zaha — who scored for Ivory Coast yesterday in a 4-1 win over Namibia to reach the last 16 at the Africa Cup of Nations — signed a contract running until 2023, with no release clause, worth £130,000 a week.

Arsenal believe that the valuation may be reduced because