Nicolas Pepe ‘set to leave Arsenal on loan as his agent is spotted at Nice ahead of potential move’

Arsenal’s record signing Nicolas Pepe looks to be near the end of his stay at the Emirates after the winger’s agent was spotted at Nice over the weekend.

Pepe joined the Gunners in 2019 for £72m, but the Ivorian has fallen down the pecking order at the club since Mikel Arteta started as manager, being an unused substitute in both Premier League matches this term.

And with the 27-year-old rumoured to be seeking a move away from Arsenal, the player’s agent, Louis Ferrer, was at Nice’s Allianz Riviera Stadium on Sunday for their draw against Strasbourg.

Ferrer posted a picture of himself at the match on Instagram, alongside Argentine coach Carlos Bianchi, who was at Nice early in his managerial career.

Pepe has seen himself falling down the order at Arsenal despite being their record signing 

If Pepe was to move to Nice, it would see the winger rejoin the league where he made his name at Lille, being Ligue 1’s second highest scorer in the 2018-19 season as his club finished second behind PSG.

Nice have already signed ex-Gunners star Aaron Ramsey and ex-Leicester keeper Kasper Schmeichel over the transfer window as returning manager Lucien Favre looks to rebuild.

They are also seeking a central attacking reinforcement such as Pepe, or alternatively former Manchester United man Edinson Cavani, who has also been linked with the club.

The side have started their Ligue 1 season with back-to-back draws, having finished fifth in the 2021-22 season.

Arsenal have already seen the departure of several fringe players over the summer break, including goalkeeper Bernd Leno, midfielder Lucas Torreira and Frenchman Matteo Guendouzi.

 

Aaron Ramsey and Kasper Schmeichel are two of the new faces to join Nice this summer