Football

Unai Emery insists Arsenal are just ‘following’ Nicolas Pepe amid intense transfer speculation


Arsenal are yet to finalise a deal for Nicolas Pepe, claims Unai Emery (Picture: Getty)

Unai Emery has said that Arsenal are yet to close a deal for Nicolas Pepe and maintains that the club are merely ‘following’ the Lille forward for the time being.

Widespread reports suggest that Arsenal will make an official announcement over Pepe’s arrival in the coming days and Lille president Gerard Lopez claimed on Wednesday that an £73million transfer had been agreed.

Arsenal have been on the hunt for a new winger this summer and after a £40m bid for Wilfried Zaha was rejected, the club turned to Pepe who impressed with 22 goals and 11 assists in France last season.

However, Emery refused to confirm an agreement for Pepe following Arsenal’s penalty shootout victory over Angers on Wednesday night.

Asked how Pepe could fit in at Arsenal after the victory, Emery replied: ‘He played here in Angers a few years ago, and then in Lille. He has progressed as a player.

‘We are speaking about a lot of players, we want to select on players who can really help us, give us big performances and improve our squad.

‘We have different options. This one at the moment is not closed, but he is one we are following.’

Emery admits Pepe’s arrival is a ‘possibility’ (Picture: Getty)

Emery added: ‘No deal is official now, and I will only speak in the next hours or days if it can be official for us.

‘We are working on the possibilities to sign players. We signed [Dani] Ceballos, and we have a possibility with Pepe. We are looking for the possibility to improve, but only if we can take more steps in the squad.

‘Our target is to sign another player if he can really, really improve us.

‘Our target is continuing to sign another player if we can.’

Arsenal have reportedly agreed a £73m deal for Pepe (Picture: Getty)

Asked whether Pepe and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang could play together in the same team, Emery replied: ‘Yes first because he is left footed.

‘We have a left footer in Bukayo [Saka], a young player who has a big future for us.

‘For example on the wing one left-footed player can play on one side or the other. It can give us different options.’

Speaking after the win over Angers, Aubameyang labelled Pepe a ‘great player’ and urged Arsenal to sign the Ivorian ‘quickly’.

‘When there are great players like that who are close to signing with a great club like Arsenal… it’s very pleasant to have a player like that,’ Aubameyang told beIN SPORTS.

‘I hope that he signs quickly and that it gets done.’

MORE: Liverpool youngster Harry Wilson sends message to Jurgen Klopp with wonder goal against Lyon





READ SOURCE

Leave a Reply

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this site, you accept our use of cookies.