Arsenal winger Nicolas Pepe could leave this summer but has major potential for the future according to Gunners coach Per Mertesacker.
There was plenty of excitement back in 2019 as Arsenal struck a huge £72million deal to sign winger Pepe from Lille.
The Ivorian had racked up 23 goals and 12 assists in his final season with Lille, temping Arsenal into that big-money deal.
Yet whilst Arsenal fans were expecting similar goalscoring exploits in the Premier League, Pepe hasn’t quite lived up to his billing.
Pepe has managed 27 goals and 21 assists in 112 Arsenal outings but started just five Premier League games last season.
Arsenal winger Nicolas Pepe could leave
The writing appears to be on the wall for Pepe at Arsenal after the club’s pursuit of another right-sided, left-footed winger in Leeds United star Raphinha.
Pepe just doesn’t appear to be in Arsenal’s immediate plans and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him leave this summer.
Goal report that Arsenal would like to sell Pepe but are finding it difficult to secure a buyer for the Ivorian.
A loan-to-buy deal may now be Arsenal’s best bet for Pepe, with Foot Mercato reporting that he has been offered to Paris Saint-Germain.
Former Lille director Luis Campos is now in charge there, so that may not be all that unrealistic.
There just doesn’t seem to be a way back for Pepe at Arsenal, but he has now received praise from a Gunners coach.
Per Mertesacker is best remembered as an Arsenal defender, but he is now in charge of Arsenal’s academy.
Mertesacker spoke to Sky Sports today and claimed that Pepe has ‘major potential’ for the future – even though he is already 27.
Potential can only get you so far and Pepe needs to start showing his quality consistently, which may end up having to come away from Arsenal.
“I’ve seen him, throughout the three weeks when I was coaching there, that he has major potential – hopefully we can see that at Arsenal,” said Mertesacker.
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