Arsenal may have been handed a potential problem in sealing a transfer exit for winger Nicolas Pepe this summer, according to reports. The Ivory Coast international has struggled since making the £72million switch to the Emirates.
Despite the huge transfer fee, the 27-year-old only managed 20 Premier League appearances last season. The majority of those came from the bench, with only one goal and two assists in 681 minutes of action.
Discussing a summer move back in April, the forward said: “It is happening at international level and a bit less so at club level. It is frustrating not to play. No player enjoys not playing but I have to respect the coach’s decision.
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"When a team is winning it is hard for a coach to make changes. Mikel has explained that to me and I know I have to work hard in training to get more playing time.
"The coach knows what I think and how hard I am working. It is also about communication. Sometimes it is not easy to communicate with the language barrier. It has been a tough season for me."
Manager Mikel Arteta fired a warning back quickly after, saying: “I want to hear that if that’s an honest opinion. I think with Nico it is because he hasn’t shown anything different to me. I don’t want to find players who have the complacency to accept the situation.
“They have to want to improve, try to get the player who is playing to a different level and helping the team more. When you have the opportunity, you have to take it."
It seems as though a move could be on the cards though, with the Gunners looking to free up space in their squad and strengthen in the transfer window. Leeds United winger Raphinha has been linked with a switch to the club to fill on both the left and right flanks.
However, a permanent move away for Pepe may be less likely as PA reports, via the Sun, that the player’s £140,000-a-week salary is proving to be a problem for potential interested parties, while other claims suggest Arsenal have put too high of an asking price on the winger. As a result, a loan move may be more likely, with reports suggesting that there is interest from La Liga clubs.
Whether the lack of a transfer for Pepe impacts the Raphinha deal or other moves in that department remains to be seen. However, it could prove to be another problem with the Gunners and moving on players with big contracts.
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