Arsenal have agreed on a deal to sign Ivorian international Nicolas Pepe from Lille – as per reports.
A number of clubs like Liverpool, Man United and Napoli were interested in signing the winger but ultimately it is the Gunners who have beaten everyone to the player’s signature.
BBC are reporting: “Arsenal have reached an agreement with French club Lille to sign Ivory Coast winger Nicolas Pepe in a deal worth 80m euros (£72m).
“The Gunners will pay for the 24-year-old via a series of instalments that suit their restricted budget for this summer.
“An agreement between Arsenal and Pepe’s representatives still needs to be finalised.
“But the transfer is expected to be completed in the next 24 to 48 hours.”
Napoli at one point were said to be the frontrunners in signing Nicolas Pepe but then suddenly Arsenal leapfrogged over them and performed a coup.
And now Italian journalist Ciro Venerato has revealed that the North London club have just priced out the other interested clubs.
“Nicolas Pepe has said ‘yes’ to Arsenal,” Venerato, who works for Rai Sport, told CalcioNapoli24(as reported by the Express).
“Medical visits towards the end of next week in London.
“Mega offer from the Gunners: €10m signing bonus, more bonuses for the next five years, and mega commission to the twelve agents.
“To Lille, the Gunners will pay €80m plus a further €10m in bonuses, so a total of €90m.
“Even the Blue [Napoli] leadership confirms the news.
“Pepe goes to Arsenal and it is impossible to match the London club’s mega offer.”
