Nicolas Pepe to Arsenal: Gunners ‘approach agent’ of Ivory Coast winger

Nicolas Pepe to Arsenal: Arsenal are keeping tabs on Lille and Ivory Coast winger Nicolas Pepe, and have reportedly approached his agent.

Arsenal underwent a minor overhaul under their new head-coach Unai Emery this summer. The Gunners made five major signings, and parted ways with players like Jack Wilshere and Santi Cazorla, with Per Mertesacker hanging his boots. But it seems like Arsenal’s business in the transfer window is yet unfinished.

According to Le10 Sports, Arsenal are keeping tabs on Lille winger Nicolas Pepe. The Ivory Coast player joined Lillie in 2017, and scored 13 goals in 36 league appearances for the club. In this season, he already has a goal and three assists in four Ligue 1 matches.

The report claims that Arsenal have already made contact with the representatives of the 23-year old footballer, and are pushing for a move in January. Arsenal’s head coach Unai Emery is reportedly wary that the Ivorian might have other big suitors and wants to complete the deal early in the January transfer window.

Nicolas Pepe has won eight international caps with Ivory Coast so far, scoring three goals.

Arsenal signed two midfielders, two defenders and a goalkeeper in the summer transfer window. The Gunners, however, endured a struggling start to the season as they dropped six points from their first four matches in the league.

They lost their opening game against defending champions Manchester City, and dropped another three points to Maurizio Sarri’s Chelsea.

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Arsenal’s midfield signing Mateo Guendouzi, however, made a positive start to his Arsenal career, starting in all of their four matches and winning the club’s Player of the Month in August.

Unai Emery’s side travels to Newcastle to take on Rafael Benitez’s side, who are currently 18th, and are yet to register a win in the league.