Arsenal linked with shock Leicester City transfer as £72m flop 'monitored'

Leicester City are reportedly 'monitoring' Arsenal flop Nicolas Pepe ahead of a potential transfer.

Journalist Ekrem Konur reports that City are keeping an eye on the Senegal international's situation this summer. Pepe is also said to be attracting the interest of City's Premier League rivals Everton and West Ham United as well as La Liga big hitters Sevilla.

The winger has yet to truly adapt to life in the Premier League after a big-money move from Lille three years ago. He has managed only 16 goals and nine assists in 80 Premier League games but has been a hit in European competition, netting eight and setting up six in 19 Europa League appearances.

Pepe struggled last season but his 2020-21 statistics were good, with 16 goals and five assists coming from 47 matches. However, his overall form during his time at the Emirates Stadium has seen his value tumble and he is estimated to be worth around £23 million by the website Transfermarkt with two years remaining on his contract.

City, the only Premier League team yet to complete a transfer, want two wingers this summer with former loanee Ademola Lookman a potential target. Meanwhile, Sofiane Diop has been linked with a move to City, with AS Monaco potentially prepared to let the player leave after signing Breel Embolo from Borussia Monchengladbach.

It is very unlikely that City would make a move to sign Pepe, not least because of the fee Arsenal would command and also the wages the 34-cap Ivory Coast star is likely to be on. Though his profile does fit, given he does not turn 28 until next season is over and he was runner-up to Kylian Mbappe in the French top tier goalscoring charts in 2019 so Pepe has obvious talent.

Reports in Spain suggest that Sevilla are ready to