In the summer of 2019, the Gunners made one of the most expensive contracts in their history by paying around €80 million for Nicolas Pepe.
The player arrived at the Emirates Stadium with an excellent reputation as a goalscorer after scoring 23 goals for Lille in the 2018/19 season.
The Gunners achieved a great agreement with the French club since they could pay the astronomical signing in installments.
However, Pepe has not been able to live up to expectations. In three seasons with Arsenal, he has scored just 27 goals.
While he has had some great moments on the pitch, his performance is generally mediocre, and on some occasions, he has been seen walking around the pitch and showing an attitude that does not go with an elite player.
It seems that Mikel Arteta has given up on the player, and now they are working on finding a way out for him.
The 27-year-old Ivorian could return to France to play in Ligue 1, a competition in which he has shown the best version of himself. Thus, Nice has been in talks with Arsenal to close a deal for incorporating Pepe on loan with the option to buy.
Pepe’s problem with leaving Arsenal is his hefty salary of £ 140,000 per week since few clubs can afford it, much less for a player who does not guarantee a good performance.
If Pepe’s departure materializes, the Gunners would be preparing the incorporation of a new striker since currently they only have Gabriel Jesus and Nketiah in that position.
Rumors suggest that Amine Gouiri is of great interest to Arsenal and is a player who can play in various offensive positions and is a player who would fit Arsenal’s scheme of play very well.