Well, Nicolas Pepe leaving Arsenal is looking like a matter of time.
The £72 million winger was omitted for the Gunners’ 3-0 victory at Bournemouth this past weekend.
On Monday, HITC Sport wrote about how that was a solid indication that Mikel Arteta will be selling or loaning the player out before the transfer window shuts.
In recent weeks, a return to Ligue 1 has been heavily mooted, with Nice reportedly interested in the 27-year-old.
However, there’s a new, more familiar party interested apparently.
According to Media Foot, Leicester City are now keen on signing the Ivory Coast international.
The report has added that City recently made contact with Arsenal about bringing the France-born attacker to the King Power Stadium before September.
A departure from North London is looking relatively certain and honestly, a transfer to City wouldn’t be entirely bad.
Brendan Rodgers is an excellent man-manager and we know that Pepe’s problem is a lot more mentality and consistency than it is actual talent.
With speed, tricks and a wand of a left foot, the former Lille sensation has everything except the consistency needed to thrive in the Premier League.
And although Arsenal’s Arteta is a very good manager, failing at the Emirates Stadium doesn’t have to mean that Pepe has failed in England entirely.
Maybe, just maybe, Rodgers could be the man to get the very best out of him on a consistent basis.
Besides, Rodgers’s side have finished above the Gunners in two of the past three Premier League campaigns.
This isn’t necessarily a massive step down for Pepe and, if he plays more regularly, it could actually lead to him reminding everyone as to why £72 million was spent on him three years ago.
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