Arsenal Transfer News: Nicolas Pepe medical date fixed as £72 million transfer moves one step closer

Nicolas Pepe will be having his Arsenal media this week after fee agreement with Lille. 

Nicolas Pepe, who agreed to join Arsenal after a successful campaign with Lille, will have a medical this week. The Gunners and the French side struck a £72 million deal for one of the most sought forwards in Europe currently.

The 24-year-old scored 23 goals and provided 12 assists in all competitions last campaign – forcing a host of club’s ears to reverberate. His stellar consistent displays sought the attention of Liverpool, Inter Milan, Napoli, and Manchester United too. However, the Gunners have made a giant stride towards his services.

According to Sky Sports, Nicolas Pepe will have his medical in England this week ahead of the proposed move. As early as this week, the Ivory Coast could pair up with his teammates before their Premier League kicks off against Newcastle United at St. James Park.

In the press conference, Unai Emery said he would be open to players improving the Gunners, and pinpoints Nicolas Pepe as one among them.

He said: “We are working, the club, and also thinking about how we can improve. They have different players on the table with the possibility that we can achieve their signature.

“Pepe is a very good player, and also we are thinking only [about] players who really, really improve the squad and also give us some different conditions to improve. We are working in the last few weeks before the season starts with the first match against Newcastle to get the best team with the best players in our squad.”

After the acquisition of Gabriel Martinelli, William Saliba, and Dani Ceballos, Nicolas Pepe could be Arsenal’s fourth summer signing. The ongoing report telltales that he is just a medical away from signing for the Europa League runners-up.

Here’s how Twitter has reacted..

BREAKING: Nicolas Pépé is expected to have a medical at Arsenal this week as a deal with Lille for the forward has been agreed, Sky Sports News understands

— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) July 29, 2019

Nicolas Pépé to Arsenal, here we go! The deal is ready to be completed soon. ⚪️🔴 #Arsenal #AFC #transfers

More details ➡️ https://t.co/a1siIeuW0D

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 29, 2019

Arsenal prepare to confirm Nicolas Pépé signing in new African record £72m deal. Fascinating to see how he does… #afc https://t.co/JpjynSXBGU

— Ed Aarons (@ed_aarons) July 29, 2019

Nicolas Pépé vs. Arsenal’s forwards in 18/19:

🎯 most total shots taken (118 vs. 94)
🌪 most take-ons (101 vs. 46)
🔑 most key passes (70 vs. 45)
⚽️ joint most goals scored (22)
🅰️ most assists (11 vs. 8)

A huge upgrade. 🇨🇮 pic.twitter.com/2Blp4TcNcT

— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) July 29, 2019

All that is missing for Nicolas Pépé to have a full agreement to join Arsenal is the conclusion of some ongoing agent fee discussions, according to @FabrizioRomano.

— Get French Football News (@GFFN) July 29, 2019

What’s next?

Nicolas Pepe would be a huge addition for the Gunners, who are starving for Champions League football. Kieran Tierney is being linked with the club, but it remains to be seen if the deal would go through.