Talks of a season-long loan move to Nice for Arsenal’s Nicolas Pepe continue, according to Fabrizio Romano.
The Ivory Coast international’s club-record £72m move to the Emirates from Lille three years ago just hasn’t worked out.
The 27-year-old hasn’t featured in either of the Gunners’ three Premier League games so far this season, and he didn’t form part of Mikel Arteta’s matchday squad in Saturday’s 3-0 win at Bournemouth.
A return to Ligue 1 where Pepe rose to prominence and grabbed Arsenal’s attention is probably the best move for him in order to resurrect a stagnating career.
Nice have already signed two players with a wealth of Premier League experience to their name this summer – Kasper Schmeichel and Aaron Ramsey.
With Lucien Favre’s side having some familiar faces in their ranks, HITC Sport has put together a combined Nice XI featuring current and former Premier League stars.
Combined Nice XI featuring current and former Premier League stars
GK – Kasper Schmeichel – Nice
After 11 years and 479 appearances for Leicester City, the great Dane opted to embark on a new challenge and leave the King Power Stadium having won the Premier League and FA Cup.
RB – Romain Perraud – Southampton
The former France Under-20 international made four first-team appearances for Nice before joining Brest in 2019.
After impressing in his second season at the Stade Francis-Le Ble, Perraud was signed by the Saints last summer, but he’s only played 18 minutes of Southampton’s three Premier League games so far this season.
CB – Nampalys Mendy – Leicester City
In the same summer (2016) the Foxes sold N’Golo Kante to Chelsea, Claudio Ranieri signed Mendy from Nice, but the following summer Mendy returned to the Allianz Riviera on a season-long loan.
The 17-time Senegal international has struggled to establish himself as a regular under Brendan Rodgers and he’s been an unused substitute in all three top-flight matches so far this season.
CB – Mario Lemina – Nice
Southampton signed the Gabon international from Serie A giants Juventus for a club record deal worth up to £18.1m five years ago.
The 28-year-old made 52 appearances for the Saints and spent the 2020-21 campaign on loan at Fulham before joining Nice last summer.
LB – Hassane Kamara – Watford
The Ivory Coast international only moved to Vicarage Road from Nice in January, but he was crowned the Hornets’ Player of the Year.
CM – Morgan Schneiderlin – Nice
After impressing under Ronald Koeman at the St Mary’s Stadium, Manchester United splashed out £24m to bring the Frenchman to Old Trafford.
Following an underwhelming 18 months at the Theatre of Dreams, Schneiderlin moved to Everton where he stayed for three-and-a-half years before joining Nice in 2020.
CM – Aaron Ramsey – Nice
The former Arsenal man’s contract was terminated by Juventus this summer and the Wales legend opted to join Nice.
The 31-year-old scored on his Nice debut and he’ll be hoping to maintain his form and fitness with the Ligue 1 side ahead of this winter’s World Cup.
RW – Said Benrahma – West Ham United
The Algerian international made 18 first-team appearances for Nice before joining Brentford in the summer of 2018.
With 30 goals and 27 assists from 94 matches for the Bees, West Ham signed Benrahma in deal that could rise to £30m.
LW – Allan Saint-Maximin – Newcastle United
The Magpies paid Nice £16.5m to sign the mercurial Frenchman three years ago and the 25-year-old has scored 12 goals and laid on 18 assists since making the move to St James’ Park.
ST – Neal Maupay – Brighton & Hove Albion
The 26-year-old scored nine goals for Nice before signing for Saint-Etienne, but like Benrahma, it was Maupay’s performances with Brentford that attracted Premier League suitors.
After scoring 41 goals from 95 games for the west London outfit, Graham Potter’s Seagulls came calling.
Fulham are leading the race to sign the Frenchman this summer, but Nottingham Forest and Everton are also interested, according to The Athletic.
ST – Mario Balotelli – Adana Demirspor
Following spells in the Premier League with Manchester City and Liverpool, the former Inter Milan and AC Milan striker joined Nice on a free transfer in 2016 and played under Patrick Vieira.
However, it was under Favre where Balotelli showed his best form for Nice, scoring 43 goals in 66 games.
The Italy international is currently playing in Turkey.
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