Arsenal set to announce £72m signing on Monday, player to pen £138k-a-week deal

We’re now at the business end of the summer transfer window and managers are working hard trying to strengthen their squads so we’ll bring you all the latest news and gossip from around the globe. Here, Arsenal are set to announce the arrival of Nicolas Pepe…

Arsenal are expected to announce the signing of Nicolas Pepe in a £72m deal on Monday with the Lille attacker set to sign a long-term contract worth around £138,000-a-week, according to reports today.

Pepe has been one of the hottest talents of the summer transfer window after playing a starring role for Lille last season that saw him contribute an impressive 23 goals and 12 assists in all competitions leading to interest from all across Europe.

Arsenal emerged as the front-runners for his signature with the BBC one of several media outlets to report on Saturday that we’d agreed a £72m [€80m] deal with Lille and were finalising terms with the 24-year-old’s camp with a view to wrapping-up the deal within 48 hours.

Some publications have suggested Napoli are still hoping to lure the Ivory Coast international to Italy with the French Press Association claiming that the Serie A club have joined Arsenal in offering Pepe a contract worth around £138,000-a-week [€8m-per season].

However, a source close to the deal told the AFP that Pepe wants to join Arsenal and the move is set to be finalised by Tuesday while the Daily Mail also claim that we’re expected to announce the attacker as our latest signing on Monday.

Unai Emery has been desperately trying to add a top class winger to his squad this summer and it seems he’s turned his attention to signing Pepe after failing to agree terms with Crystal Palace for Wilfried Zaha.

Pepe would be a superb signing if we can get this proposed deal over the line as he’s already one of the most dangerous attackers in French football and has the potential to develop even further at Arsenal.

The Ivorian is predominantly a right winger but he can play anywhere across the attacking positions, including up front, so he’d give Emery plenty of options in the final third if he does end up moving to the Emirates.

READ –> Arsenal transfer news

Let’s see how things develop over the coming hours but if these reports are accurate, then Pepe is set to become Arsenal’s fourth signing of the summer following the arrivals of Gabriel Martinelli, Dani Ceballos and William Saliba – who’ll spend next season back on loan at St-Etienne.