Arsenal transfer news: Nicolas Pepe, Monchi, Denis Suarez
Lille could sell Pepe for £50m but Man Utd and Barcelona are also interested
The price is right
There is good news for the Gunners. Reports claim that Nicolas Pepe could be sold by the French club Lille for “the right price”.
The 23-year-old winger has long been linked to Arsenal. Although a January move didn’t happen, reports from France say that the two clubs remain in contact and a deal is close to being agreed.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The Sun claims that Lille are prepared to sell the forward “with a price tag of around £50m”, a figure that could be within the grasp of Arsenal.
With 17 goals in 28 games this season, Pepe has been scouted by several teams. Lille have admitted that a club of their stature isn’t in the position to look a gift horse in the mouth.
“We are not a rich club,” said Lille’s sporting director Luis Campos to the French broadcaster Telefoot. “It means that if a really good proposal comes in for Pepe, we have to sell him.”
According to the Sun, Arsenal manager Unai Emery has identified Pepe as the perfect player to supply the crosses from the flanks for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette.
The only fly in the ointment is the rumour that both Manchester United and Barcelona are “in the race for Pepe’s signature”.
Monchi for Mislintat
According to Metro, Monchi will “spearhead” Arsenal’s push to sign Pepe. The Gunners are said to have reached an agreement with Roma’s current sporting director.
It’s no secret they’ve been chasing Monchi after Sven Mislintat’s departure as their head of recruitment earlier this month. Apparently he will join Arsenal in the summer.
Although it was Mislintat who came up with the idea of signing Pepe, Monchi “also favours a move for the 23-year-old”.
Suarez latest
He has yet to make his first start for Arsenal but Spanish winger Denis Suarez is already being lined up for a full-time move to the Emirates at the end of the season, reports Metro.
The 25-year-old, whose four appearances for Arsenal have come from the bench, was loaned to the north London outfit by Barcelona in the January transfer window. But according to the Spanish outlet Marca, the two clubs “agreed a fee of £17.3m prior to Suarez’s loan arrival”.
However, that is only if the Gunners believe he can fit into their long-term plans. The interest in Pepe suggests that Emery may have already decided against making the move permanent.
Premier League fixtures
Tuesday 26 February
- Cardiff City vs. Everton (7.45pm)
- Huddersfield Town vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers (7.45pm)
- Leicester City vs. Brighton & Hove Albion (7.45pm)
- Newcastle United vs. Burnley (8pm, live on BT Sport 1)
Wednesday 27 February
- Arsenal vs. AFC Bournemouth (7.45pm)
- Southampton vs. Fulham (7.45pm)
- Chelsea vs. Tottenham Hotspur (8pm, live on BT Sport 1)
- Crystal Palace vs. Manchester United (8pm)
- Liverpool vs. Watford (8pm)
- Manchester City vs. West Ham United (8pm)
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
4 ways to give back this holiday season
The Explainer If your budget is feeling squeezed, remember that money is not the only way you can be generous around the holidays
By Becca Stanek, The Week US Published
-
4 tips for hosting an ecofriendly Thanksgiving
The Week Recommends Coming together for the holidays typically produces a ton of waste, but with proper preparation, you can have an environmentally friendly gathering.
By Theara Coleman, The Week US Published
-
Jussie Smollet conviction overturned on appeal
Speed Read The Illinois Supreme Court overturned the actor's conviction on charges of staging a racist and homophobic attack against himself in 2019
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The Premier League's spending cap: levelling the playing field?
Talking Point Top clubs oppose plans to link spending to income of lowest-earning club, but rule could prevent success gap from widening
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Is a new English football regulator an own goal for the game?
Talking Point PM hails 'historic moment for football fans' but West Ham owner warns it could 'ruin' Premier League
By The Week UK Published
-
English football and the etiquette of leaving the stadium early
Talking Point The belief that 'true fans stay to the end' does not always apply
By The Week UK Published
-
2023-2024 Premier League predictions: champions, relegation and golden boot
feature A look at the top flight talking points and pundit picks for the new season
By Mike Starling Published
-
Man City: can ‘one of the best sides in history’ win the treble?
feature Guardiola’s Premier League champions have two more trophies in their sights
By The Week Staff Published
-
Premier League: Man City vs. Arsenal predictions
feature What the pundits say about tonight’s title race showdown at the Etihad
By Mike Starling Last updated
-
Antonio Conte leaves Tottenham after ‘extraordinary’ rant at players
feature After another year without a trophy, Spurs are now searching for a new manager
By The Week Staff Published
-
Liverpool 7 Man Utd 0: ‘welcome to Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool 2.0’
feature Anfield’s ‘new front three’ were on fire in the humbling of their bitter rivals
By Mike Starling Published