Arsenal are expected to complete a five-year, €80 million deal for Lille winger Nicolas Pepe on Tuesday, according to ESPN FC sources.
Pepe is in London for a medical, the sources said, after Arsenal beat four other clubs for the 24-year-old’s signature.
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Napoli, Inter Milan, Paris Saint-Germain and Atletico Madrid had all agreed on the fee with Lille for Pepe, but according to sources, he agreed personal terms with Arsenal, his preferred option.
Arsenal had also been linked with a move for Pepe’s Ivory Coast teammate Wilfried Zaha but were unable to agree a deal with Crystal Palace, who were holding out for a deal worth £70m.
Unai Emery has so far welcomed two new additions for next season in Brazilian teenager Gabriel Martinelli and Dani Ceballos, who joined on loan from Real Madrid.
Arsenal have also signed William Saliba from Saint Etienne, but have sent the defender back to his former club on loan.
Pepe joined Lille from Angers in 2017 and enjoyed an impressive first campaign with the Ligue 1 side as he hit 13 goals, despite battling relegation for much of the season.
However, he exploded into life in his second term as his 22 goals in Ligue 1 helped Lille finish runners-up to PSG.