Arsenal are reportedly willing to terminate Nicolas Pepe’s contract if they are unable to find a buyer for the Ivory Coast forward during the current transfer window.
The 28-year-old hasn’t been able to live up to his £72m price tag since joining the Gunners in a record-breaking transfer from Lille in the summer of 2019 under Unai Emery.
With the rise of Bukayo Saka, Emile Smith Rowe, and Gabriel Martinelli limiting his chances of playing time, Pepe was given the green light to return to Ligue 1 with Nice for the 2022-23 season.
The Ivorian scored eight goals in 28 appearances for Les Aiglons across all competitions, but he was plagued by injuries and only appeared in 17 Ligue 1 matches.
Pepe’s contract with Nice didn’t include an option or obligation to extend his stay, therefore he is set to return to Arsenal for pre-season training, but his deal only runs until the end of next season.
With Arsenal returning to the Champions League without Pepe, the 28-year-old appears to have no future in North London, and The Telegraph says that the Gunners will try to sell him ahead of the 2023-24 season.
Nice have already announced that they would not keep the attacker on their books, but Arsenal are reportedly hoping to receive bids in the coming weeks.
See Also: Real Madrid Confirm Jude Bellingham Signing On A Six Year Contract
The Gunners are willing to take a substantial cut on the £72m they paid for Pepe in 2019, but if no suitable bids come in, the Ivory Coast international’s contract might be terminated instead.
Pepe won the FA Cup in his debut season with Arsenal and has 27 goals and 21 assists in 112 games for the Gunners, with double figures expected in the 2020-21 Premier League season.
COMMENTS