Arsenal are ‘ready to cut their losses on £72m flop Nicolas Pepe this summer’, as Sevilla, Marseille, Lyon and Leeds all show interest in club’s record signing
- Arsenal appear ready to cut their losses on £72million winger Nicolas Pepe
- Pepe became the Gunners’ record signing in 2019 when he joined from Lille
- He has failed to cement his place in the Gunners team and only made five starts
- Sevilla, Lyon, Marseille and Leeds United are all monitoring Pepe’s situation
Arsenal are reportedly ready to cut their losses on record £72million signing Nicolas Pepe this summer with Sevilla, Lyon and Marseille all interested.
Pepe became the Gunners’ record signing in 2019 when he joined from Lille for £72million, but he has struggled to cement his place in the Gunners team.
The Ivory Coast international started just five Premier League games this season and has contributed just one goal and one assist during his 19 domestic outings.
Arsenal are reportedly ready to cut their losses on record £72million signing Nicolas Pepe
The Ivory Coast international winger started just five Premier League games this season
The 27-year-old has been playing second fiddle to the likes of Bukayo Saka, Emile Smith-Rowe and Gabriel Martinelli this season and he even hired a new agent earlier in the summer.
LaLiga side Sevilla are said to have begun talks with Arsenal over Pepe’s status, according to Diario de Sevilla.
The same reports does however suggest that his salary presents an issue to Sevilla, with Pepe needing to lower his current £100,000 per week demands if a move is to happen.
Pepe will need to lower his current £100,000 per week demands to move to LaLiga side Sevilla
The 27-year-old has been playing second fiddle under Gunners boss Mikel Arteta (pictured)
There is also a question over the fee, with Sevilla only prepared to pay £15million for the 27-year-old.
The Gunners are holding out for around £10m more, for a combined fee in the region of £25m to recoup some of the fee they forked out just three years ago.
Either way, it appears Arsenal will have to accept a massive loss on the player, but Sevilla are not the only club interested in signing the winger.
Marseille and Lyon are both keen to bring Pepe back to France, where he shined for Lille
Marseille and Lyon are both keen to bring him back to France, where his performances for Lille originally earned him the big-money move to Arsenal.
Leeds are also eyeing a move as they seek a replacement for Raphinha, who has joined Barcelona.
Pepe, however, is currently with the Gunners on their pre-season tour of USA and he also featured as they sealed a 5-3 win over Nurnberg in Germany on Friday before jetting off to the States.
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