Arsenal weigh up DRASTIC transfer decision
Tom Weber
- Updated: 3 Aug 2023 18:36 BST
- 3 min read
Arsenal could be forced to make a drastic decision to facilitate Nicolas Pepe's exit, according to French media.
The Gunners' erstwhile record signing has become a record flop. Pepe arrived from Lille at the Emirates for €80 million in 2019, but he has endured a torrid time in England.
Though 48 goal contributions in 112 games are far from a terrible return, a lot more was expected from the Ivorian when he arrived in north London. Last season, he featured for OGC Nice in Ligue 1, scoring six times as his side finished in a disappointing ninth.
The French club decided against trying to sign him permanently and now Pepe is back at Arsenal, though it has become abundantly clear that he does not have a future at the club.
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Reports about how Arsenal will proceed have been conflicting. Initially, it was pondered that they could rip up his contract, but more recent reports suggested that Turkish side Besiktas were prepared to bid for the winger. Now, we have come full circle again.
Arsenal to terminate his contract
That is at least according to Footmercato, which claims that Arsenal indeed want to take the drastic measure of terminating Pepe's deal.
"According to our information," the French outlet writes, "Arsenal and Nicolas Pepe will discuss the termination the player's contract, which is due to end in June 2024. The Gunners want to put an end to this fiasco before then and want to offer him a year's salary to compensate."
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This would then, in turn, make his move to Besiktas easier. "The Turks want him to come free," claims the above-mentioned report. In hindsight, his Arsenal transfer must go down as one of the worst in history. Pepe reportedly pockets an annual salary of €8.5m, so ripping up his contract won't be cheap for the Gunners.
