Arsenal’s record signing Nicolas Pepe will return to France for the season, reports David Ornstein of The Athletic. The Ivorian will join Ligue 1 outfit OGC Nice on loan for the campaign after the two clubs struck an agreement for a temporary transfer without the option to buy the player outright at the end of the stipulated period.
The 27-year-old will undergo his medical examinations in the coming days; he will become the club’s eighth signing of the summer, joining former Gunner Aaron Ramsey at the Allianz Riviera.
Pepe joined Arsenal in the summer of 2019 for a club-record 72 million pounds. However, the Ivory Coast international failed to repeat his heroics of the season before, when, at Lille, he had hit 23 goals in 42 appearances across all competitions.
Eventually, the winger lost his place in the Arsenal squad to youngsters Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith-Rowe; he played just 23 times for the Gunners in 2021/22, most of which were cameos from the bench.
Pepe’s departure will open up a spot on the Arsenal roster and reports claim that the Gunners hope to fill it with Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Pedro Neto.
The wingman has been linked with the North Londoners recently, but according to rumors, an agreement between the two clubs is not close as of yet.
“I have heard that but nothing has come to us.”
“It’s normal now, with the good players that we have. Teams are looking for good players in the same way we are looking for Guedes, Matheus, [and] Collins.
“No one told me anything about any proposal,”
Wolves’ manager Bruno Lage said.
22-year-old Neto joined Wolves three seasons ago from Lazio in a double deal which also involved compatriot Bruno Jordao moving to England. He has made 96 appearances for the club so far, the number affected by a prolonged absence during the 2021/22 season due to injury, and scored 11 goals.
