January's Most Wanted: Arsenal flop Pepe to leave the Emirates?

8 Jan 2022 13:44 GMT
5 min read

Nicolas Pepe, Arsenal, 2021/22 — © ProShots

Arsenal's record signing remains Ivorian winger Nicolas Pepe, and the transfer has proved underwhelming to say the least.

After an impressive 2018/19 campaign in which he scored 22 goals and recorded 11 assists for Lille in Ligue 1, Pepe earned a huge £72 million transfer to the Gunners.

Article continues under the video

He has struggled under the weight of expectation and his price tag, though, and as of the 2021/22 campaign he is not valued as a key player by Mikel Arteta.

In the 2021/22 season so far under the Spaniard, he has started just five Premier League games and just eight in all competitions.

His lack of involvement has naturally led to speculation about his future.

What is Nicolas Pepe's transfer status?

According to Football London, Pepe is available for as little as just £25m as Arsenal are prepared to accept a significant loss on their record signing.

Though Arteta was full of praise for the player recently, he is not rated ahead of the likes of Bukayo Saka, Emile Smith Rowe, Gabriel Martinelli and Martin Odegaard.

Pepe spoke to Arteta recently about his lack of game time, so he could make noises about wanting to leave soon.

When does Nicolas Pepe's contract expire?

Pepe's contract with Arsenal expires in June of 2023.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Nicolas Pepe (@nicolas.pepe19)

What clubs are interested in Nicolas Pepe?

Unfortunately for Arsenal, and for Pepe, there isn't a long list of suitors out there waiting to initiate a transfer.

A return to Lille has been mentioned, but it is unlikely the French side will be able to afford the kind of fee Arsenal want.

One possibility is that Pepe might be involved in part-exchange for a player coming in, such as Fiorentina's Dusan Vlahovic or Milan's Franck Kessie.

Could Nicolas Pepe leave in January?

If any significant fee is presented on the table, Pepe will leave. However, his presence at the Africa Cup of Nations with Ivory Coast could complicate matters.