Everton plot loan-to-buy bid for Arsenal winger Nicolas Pepe in January
Everton want to sign Arsenal winger Nicolas Pepe on a loan deal in January with a view to a permanent move, according to Jeunes Footeux.
Pepe, 26, became Arsenal’s most expensive player in their history after joining for £67.2million from French side Lille in 2019.
However, he has made just seven Premier League appearances for the Gunners this season, despite a 16-goal haul for the North-London outfit across all competitions last season.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, a former Everton midfielder, is said to be in favour of Pepe’s departure in January, despite calling him “incredible” [Independent] last year, and that has piqued the interest of Everton, Newcastle United and Crystal Palace.
The Premier League trio are all in favour of an initial loan deal, though, with an option to buy, with Arsenal likely to have to accept the former at the very least.
Pace
Pepe’s time at Arsenal has not worked out so far, but there remains a talented player who scored 10 Premier League goals last season.
He starred for Lille in France and has 26 international caps and six goals for the Ivory Coast.
Everton signed Demarai Gray in the summer and the English attacker transformed the Blues forward line at the beginning of the season, adding pace and a direct style of play.
Richarlison, Anthony Gordon and Andros Townsend can all play on the wing but none possess the dribbling ability and speed of Pepe, which is an attraction for Blues supporters, while it was under Leeds United boss Marcelo Bielsa at Lille that he also developed into a striker.
If a loan move can be agreed then it may be worth doing as funds are tight at Goodison Park at the moment, but there are other positions that should be of more priority, such as full-back and central midfield.
The Blues can’t really afford to be fussy at the moment, though, and January is a difficult window to shop.
In other Everton news, a European club is plotting a January swoop for this 2021 Blues signing.
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