Report: Crystal Palace and Everton want £140,000-a-week Arsenal winger

Wed 17 November 2021 14:15, UK

Everton and Crystal Palace are keen on signing Nicolas Pepe from Arsenal during the January transfer window,

The Gunners’ club-record signing has struggled to impose himself at the Emirates Stadium.

He is way down the pecking order under Mikel Arteta and has never really looked like cementing a place since his £72 million arrival from Lille.

This season, Pepe has started five Premier League games but has registered just one assist.

With that in mind, Arteta may look to offload the player in January as Arsenal prepare to wash their hands of the 26-year-old.

In total, Pepe has made 98 appearances for Arsenal, scoring 25 goals and claiming 18 assists.

He typically operates on the right-wing but his performances haven’t warranted him earning regular starts.

A move to Palace would see him link up with Arsenal hero Patrick Vieira.

He has got the Eagles playing some wonderful football and a move to Selhurst Park could prove attractive.

Everton may prove less attractive. They’re firmly in a transitional period and boss Rafa Benitez has it all to do to convince the fan base.

If first-team football can be assured though, Pepe might not care too much who he goes to play for.

Arsenal have to offload Pepe and Palace could be perfect

Palace look to be going places under Vieira and signing for them could be exciting for Pepe.

The trickster needs an arm around him and Vieira seems like the type of manager capable of doing just that.

Pepe would be a superb loan signing for Palace in January and afterwards, perhaps a permanent deal can be agreed.

The Ivorian isn’t a bad player. During the 2018/19 campaign, he fired 23 goals and claimed 12 assists at Lille.

The player is desperate for some minutes and the Eagles could be ideal for him to showcase his talents.