Arsenal are now ready to take a huge hit on the club-record fee Unai Emery paid LOSC Lille for Nicolas Pepe, as Mikel Arteta bids to refresh his ranks in the summer transfer window.
That’s according to Calciomercato, who report the Gunners have set Pepe’s asking price at just €30m (£25m). Technical director Edu will welcome offers for the Ivorian as the winger has failed to establish himself as a key player since moving the Emirates Stadium in 2019.
The hierarchy in north London backed Emery heavily in his third and final market as Arsene Wenger’s heir. They paid Lille a whopping £72m to land Pepe, as the Ligue 1 side agreed to let Arsenal cover the fee over five years – with £20m handed over as the initial instalment.
Pepe had produced 23 goals and 12 assists over 41 appearances during his final season at the Stade Pierre Mauroy. Yet the 26-year-old has only managed 27 goals and 20 assists in 107 Gunners outings. Just 16 goals and eight assists have come in the Premier League.
Arteta has lost faith in Pepe drastically this term, as well, to the point he has featured just 15 times in the top-flight. Only five of those fixtures have also seen the 28-cap winger start the action. He additionally has not opened his last nine in the Premier League since October 18.
Arsenal now ready to sell Nicolas Pepe for one-third of his club-record £72m fee
Pepe recorded his sole Premier League goal for the campaign so far on February 24 to help beat Wolves 2-1. His lack of subsequent game time saw Gunners hero Kolo Toure admit his compatriot is ‘struggling’ in March. Pepe also admitted Arteta’s lack of trust is frustrating.
“It is frustrating not to play,” he said, via quotes by The Sun. “No player enjoys not playing, but I have to respect the coach’s decision. Mikel has explained that to me, and I know I have to work hard in training to get more playing time. It has been a tough season for me.”
Having also not offered an assist in the top-flight since September 11 to beat Norwich City 1-0, Pepe’s frustrations and Arteta’s lack of trust is pointing more and more to a transfer in the summer sales at a huge financial hit on the club-record transfer fee Arsenal paid Lille.
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