Nicolas Pepe leaving Arsenal is a topic of discussion right now.
According to Football London this week, Arsenal are prepared to listen to offers for the former Lille winger, a £72 million signing during the summer of 2019.
It’s been a rotten season for the 27-year-old who, barring a massive equaliser against Wolves at the Emirates earlier this year, simply hasn’t delivered.
The good news is, Arsenal might, in our opinion, have a clever way of offloading the player and getting one in return.
Swap deal
The North Londoners are also linked with a move for Memphis Depay who, according to ABC in Spain, Mikel Arteta and Edu have made enquiries for.
On Friday, Sport in Spain reported that Barcelona would accept only £25 million for the Dutchman – whose release clause is £338 million – and Arsenal should float the idea of swapping Pepe for Depay, without either club spending a cent.
The sad truth is that with two years left on his contract, and having bombed in the Premier League, £25 million is also around the same price what the Gunners can reasonably expect to recoup for Pepe.
Would things be different for Pepe in Spain?
In a word, yes.
The physicality of English football has never suited the French-born attacker but you can by his speed, dribbling and bags of tricks that he’s an immense player and one who could well dazzle over in Spain.
He inspired Arteta’s side to a Community Shield victory over Liverpool back in 2020 and fans of the Anfield outfit – who know a thing or two about brilliant wingers, having watched Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane down the years – singled him out for praise on social media.
His performance against Jurgen Klopp’s side that day was a massive reminder of his talent; it’s the consistency which he never showed in North London but with La Liga being less physical, it’s perfectly reasonable to expect him to shine.
Nicolas Pepe leaving Arsenal would be a sad sight of many-a-Gooner, considering his talent and what could’ve been, but it’s never going to work out and Edu should absolutely try and swap him for Depay this summer.
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