Arsenal step up Pepe interest

Arsenal have stepped up their interest in Lille’s Nicolas Pepe, according to Mundo Deportivo.

The French side signed the winger last year and so far he has made 43 appearances and scored 19 goals for them in all competitions. He also has 8 caps with Ivory Coast and three goals to his name since making his international debut in 2016.

European giants Barcelona and Bayern Munich have both been linked with the 23-year-old for several months, but it seems Arsenal are the first to make concrete steps towards acquiring his services.

What exactly manager Unai Emery’s plan for him is, however, remains a bit of a mystery given the number and quality of attacking players already at his disposal. The Gunners are currently on a huge winning streak with nine consecutive triumphs in all competitions, and the achievement is mainly due to their attacking flair.

Given that Pepe’s contract with Lille runs until the summer of 2022, it’s hard to imagine any kind of a low transfer fee involved.