Arsenal BROKE their TRANSFER RECORD for him and now he leaves on loan
The Gunners had a huge blunder with him in the transfer market, and now they're trying to get rid of him
Many an eyebrow was lifted when Arsenal made official their signing of Nicolas Pepe in 2019. The Ivorian was coming off an impressive season with LOSC Lille in the Ligue 1, but he also put back the Gunners some £72 million, breaking their all time transfer record by some margin.
Nicolas Pepe became Arsenal's most expensive signing ever in 2019
Doubters were quickly proven right, as Pepe failed to impose himself in the Premier League, first under Unai Emery and then Mikel Arteta, despite several "arrival" moments. The rumours that came up while Arsenal reshuffled their management structure that the signing had actually been inflated by various fees paid by the former administration made a lot of sense, with reports that the Lille board could not believe their luck when they heard Arsenal's offer also paiting a grim picture.
Now, the Gunners are ready to do whatever it takes to shift the Ivory Coast international, and it seems they'll get their wish sooner rather than later. As per various reports, the now 27-year-old is just one step away from a loan move return to France, with OGC Nice.
According to journalist Fabrizio Romano, Pepe took a pay cut to facilitate the move, which is hardly surprising considering he's on more than £7 million per season. Still, the French side is reported to pay only a part of the wages, with the rest being covered by Arsenal.
Pepe could never show his best self for Arsenal
The loan, which was already been greenlighted by the Gunners, will not include a buy option; that means Nicolas Pepe will return to Arsenal the following season, with his deal going all the way until 2024.
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