Arsenal ‘preparing for the worst’ over record signing

Robin Bairner

• 13 Jul 2023 12:20 BST
• 2 min read

Arsenal have enjoyed a largely positive summer in the transfer window so far, with Kai Havertz joining the club from Chelsea and a deal for Declan Rice making steady progress to completion.

One major problem for manager Mikel Arteta and technical director Edu, though, surrounds the fate of record-signing Nicolas Pepe.

The €80 million arrival from Lille in 2019 has failed to justify that price tag and was sent on loan at Ligue 1 club Nice last season, where it was hoped that he might recapture some form that would allow him to be sold for a reasonable figure.

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Pepe, though, endured a mediocre season with Nice, where he managed only eight goals in 28 appearances, three of which were penalties.

He also suffered a knee injury that saw him miss much of 2023, which coincided with Nice’s best run of form.

As such, Arsenal will be hard pressed to find a buyer for the player, while FootballTransfers values him at a little over €10m – hardly a price that the Gunners will be happy about seeing their record arrival depart for.

But the way things are going with Pepe, who has just one year left on his contract, even that might be a welcome bonus.

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Aubameyang repeat?

According to a report from Football.London, the Gunners are “preparing for the worst” over the striker and may need to repeat the Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scenario.

Back in February 2022, Aubameyang’s contract was paid off as he forced through a move to Barcelona amid a disciplinary battle with Arteta and Arsenal. That was a decision that cost the club £7 million at the time.

The Gunners are drifting towards the same scenario with Pepe.

A similar figure is expected to be required to release Pepe, whose annual salary is worth £7.2m, according to reports. But with the player unhappy and reportedly eager to move on, Arsenal may feel that the payment is worth it.