Nicolas Pepe’s departure from Arsenal finally looks set to happen. The Ivorian has reportedly decided on Ligue 1 as his next destination.
football.London understands that Pepe has opted to join OGC Nice. In this process, the winger also rejected the services of Leicester City who also shared an interest in him.
With Pepe’s loan move on the verge of happening it could encourage Edu to go into the market in the final days of the window to search for a replacement. Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano reported that Arsenal’s winger hunt could depend on the departure of Pepe.
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Pepe’s move to OGC Nice is reported to be a season-long loan without an option to buy. Nice-Matin has claimed in their report that Nice will cover part of the player’s monthly wages, whereas Leicester were prepared to pay the Ivorian international’s full salary, but Pepe was determined to secure a move back to France.
The north London side needed to make the decision whether to keep or sell Pepe at the end of the season, as he enters the territory of having less than three years left on his contract.
If Pepe leaves on a season long-loan this summer it means he will return to the club with just one year remaining on his current deal. In normal circumstances loaning him out at this stage of his contract would seem ludicrous because it means his value will debunk when he returns to the club due to the possibility of a free transfer just six months after he returns. However, Pepe’s situation is completely different.
Due to the £72m fee Arsenal paid in 2019, offloading the Ivorian from north London on a permanent basis has proved to be an impossible task as Pepe no longer holds any value due to the failure of the big money move.
The winger was sensational in Ligue 1 before he made the switch to Arsenal. He was the Ligue 1’s top scorer during the 2018/2019 season scoring 22 goals and providing 11 assists in the process.
Another successful season in Ligue 1 on loan at Nice could raise his value and finally give Arsenal the chance to sell him on a permanent basis. It is a risk that must be taken by Edu.
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