Football London claim Arsenal man Nicolas Pepe has hired new agents, and told them to find him a new club. The Ivory Coast international looks likely to leave the Gunners in the summer, after a stuttering 21-22 season.
Pepe, 26, has now spent three years at Arsenal but has never been able to repay his £72million fee. This season, he has been afforded just five Premier League starts, coming on as a substitute in 14 others for the Gunners.
Set to enter the final two years of his contract, Football London report that he has hired new agents and ordered them to find him a new club. A return to France could be on the cards, while he could stay in the Premier League.
Back in November, reports suggested Newcastle, Everton and Arsenal legend Patrick Vieira wanted him – the latter at Crystal Palace. Time will tell where he goes, but it certainly looks as if Pepe’s Arsenal stay is set to end.
Arsenal man Pepe tells agent to find new club: Return to France needed
While staying in the Premier League might help him prove Mikel Arteta and Arsenal they were wrong to keep him on the bench – he needs to rediscover his touch. A return to his home country would allow him to do that.
At Lille, he had 55 goal involvements in 79 games – scoring 38 times. That kind of form makes it understandable why Arsenal signed him, but not the price. It has weighed the player down and ultimately, the reason for his exit.
A move to Lyon or Marseille, who have both shown interest, suits Pepe – especially with the in with a chance of the the Champions League. A far cry from a player Arteta once branded “phenomenal”.
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