Arsenal and OGC Nice have reportedly agreed to a loan deal for Nicolas Pepe, with the transfer coming without a purchase option.
According to David Ornstein of The Athletic, Ligue 1 club OGC Nice have agreed to a loan deal with Arsenal to take Nicolas Pepe for the remainder of the season. The Ivorian winger is out of Mikel Arteta’s plan, and the Gunners could now target a replacement before closing the window.
Arsenal did their business quickly in the summer, and since the most recent arrival of Oleksandr Zinchekno, they have paused all incomings. Mikel Arteta and Edu Gaspar wanted to trim their large squad before focusing on adding one or two players before the window shuts.
Nicolas Pepe remained firmly on top of their agenda, as Arteta sees no place for the 27-year-old winger in his squad. The Ivory Coast international, signed for a record sum of £72 million, never got his bearings right at Arsenal, making 112 appearances and scoring 27 goals for the Gunners.
Arsenal initially hoped to recoup a significant sum by selling Pepe in this window. However, without any significant bids coming in so far, the Gunners have been open to allowing a loan departure which would free up space in their squad and the wage bill.
OGC Nice have been closing in on signing the Ivorian winger, as they hoped to bring him back to Ligue 1. The French outfit submitted a loan bid a few days ago, and Arsenal have responded positively. The two clubs have agreed on a season-long switch for the winger, with the deal not containing a buy option.
There were whispers about a late interest from Leicester City, although it is clear that Pepe’s next destination is Ligue 1. Arsenal will hope Pepe hits top form in France, allowing them to sell him for a reasonable price next summer. Adding a purchase option in the loan deal would have significantly affected their hopes of recouping decent money on the 27-year-old winger.
As Pepe moves on, Arsenal could re-enter the market for a replacement. They are already in talks to sign Pedro Neto, although the Portuguese international’s £50 million price tag could pose problems in completing a move. Whether there is sufficient time for the Gunners to bring in a replacement remains to be seen.
The north Londoners will not overpay for top targets, although they remain open to negotiating any possible deal. Arsenal have started their season brightly, sitting on top of the Premier League table after three wins. Arteta has a good squad at his disposal, but many consider bringing in a new midfielder and a backup to Bukayo Saka imperative before the window shuts.