In the midst of the clamour for Arsenal to ensure their summer transfer business is successful, the aspect of player sales has taken a backseat. The club are yet to make a significant sale this summer and technical director Edu needs to address the poor sales reputation.
However, the club looks set to lose out on a potential summer win and a serious financial boost. Nicolas Pepe arrived as Arsenal's record signing in 2019 for £72 million after a strong season with Lille earned him the move to north London.
Pepe, however, failed to settle and could never replicate the goalscoring form that took him into the minds of the European elite whilst in Ligue 1. The rise of Bukayo Saka during his time with the team made the situation doubly worse as the Hale End graduate stole the right-wing spot.
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After three seasons and an exponential decrease in game-time, Arsenal are open to selling the Ivorian. Pepe too is open to moving on and football.london understands his change of agency this summer was done so with securing an exit from the club in mind.
According to The Express, the reported price Arsenal set on the player is £25 million. A drop of £47 million from what the club paid just three seasons ago.
However, Arsenal are seriously struggling to drum up interest in the player. The primary reason is his £140,000 per week wages which is a figure most clubs on the continent will struggle to match.
According to PA Media’s Mark Mann-Bryans, the club are actively ‘seeking suitors’ for Pepe. However, a loan move away from the club is the most likely outcome for the moment.
This would be a real dent in the potential boost to the club financially this summer. Kicking the can down the road another season and arguably weakening the club’s position of a future sale with the Ivorian having just a year remaining on his Arsenal contract come June next year.
All the other potential departures for the club this summer will be lucky to demand half the fee that the Gunners were hoping for should they have sold Pepe. Edu has come under increasing scrutiny for his inability to command serious fees for players.
Only Joe Willock and Emi Martinez have been sold successfully under his watch so far. The longer the Pepe situation rolls onward, the likelier he will join the likes of Shkodran Mustafi, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Mesut Ozil in the mega loss category for the club, having all departed for free.
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