Sources: Arsenal make up minds on Nicolas Pepe transfer amid ‘huge’ reveal
Arsenal are ready to sell Nicolas Pepe at a huge loss this summer, Football Insider understands.
The winger, 26, has been completely usurped by Bukayo Saka and is not part of Mikel Arteta’s long-term plans.
An Arsenal source has told Football Insider that the club are exploring ways to get Pepe off their wage bill three years after his £72million arrival from Lille.
It has proved to be a wretched deal for the London giants, who are willing to accept a loss of more than £40million to get him off their books.
A loan could prove more likely, given Pepe’s recent form and the wages that form a major hurdle to a permanent deal.
The attacker has been a fringe figure this season, making just five Premier League starts among his 22 appearances in all competitions.
The contract Pepe signed upon his arrival in 2019 has two years left to run.
He was ineffectual when brought off the bench for the final 17 minutes of the Gunners' 2-0 defeat at Newcastle United on Monday (16 May).
That results leaves Arteta's side needing Tottenham to slip up on the final day against already-relegated Norwich City to have any hope of qualifying for the Champions League.
Pepe's 22 appearances in all competitions this term have yielded three goals and five assists.
The Ivorian, who was knocked out at the round-of-16 stage by Egypt in this year's Africa Cup of Nations, has started just five matches in the league all season.