Nicolas Pepe 'decides to leave Arsenal' as record signing set for summer transfer

Nicolas Pepe is reportedly ready to push for a transfer away from Arsenal this summer.

Pepe joined Arsenal in a club-record £72million move from Lille in 2019 but has been pushed to the fringes of Mikel Arteta’s squad this season. The Ivory Coast international has contributed just three goals and five assists in 22 appearances for the Gunners this campaign.

Arteta has preferred to start Bukayo Saka on the right wing in his usual 4-2-3-1 formation, with Pepe handed just five starts in the Premier League all season. That frustration has now come to a head, with the 26-year-old seeking a transfer away from north London this summer.

According to football.london , Pepe has changed agents and instructed his representative to find him a new club. That eventuality would suit Arsenal, who are reportedly happy to entertain offers for Pepe, who is deemed expendable by Arteta and sporting director Edu after contributing 27 goals and 20 assists in 111 appearances altogether for the club.

Pepe’s reduced standing at Arsenal has become increasingly clear in recent weeks following two poor performances. First he was reprimanded by Gunners coach Albert Stuivenberg for surrendering possession dangerously in the closing stages of the 2-1 win over Leeds, before putting in another lacklustre display off the bench in the 2-0 defeat by Newcastle on Monday.

It seems that those forgettable cameos off the substitutes’ bench could be Pepe’s final offerings, with just one game left this season, against Everton on Sunday. However, Arsenal could find Pepe difficult to offload, given he still has two years left on his contract and reportedly earns around £140,000 per week.

Marseille and Lyon have previously been linked with a move, with