Transfer Centre

Everton eyeing move for Arsenal's Nicolas Pepe?

By Matthew Tranter, Reporter | 22 July 2022

Everton eye up a potential move for Arsenal's 27-year-old out-of-favour winger Nicolas Pepe this summer, according to journalist Pete O'Rourke.

Everton have eyed up a potential move for Arsenal's out-of-favour winger Nicolas Pepe this summer, according to journalist Pete O'Rourke.

The Ivorian made the club-record £72m move to the Gunners from Lille back in 2019, but despite showing glimpses of talent in his debut campaign, the 27-year-old has hugely struggled to live up to expectations.

Mikel Arteta sparingly used the wide man during the 2021-22 campaign, restricting Pepe to just five Premier League starts due to the form of the likes of Emile Smith Rowe, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli.

However, with his career having stalled, Pepe could be offered a lifeline by Everton boss Frank Lampard, according to O'Rourke.

Speaking to GiveMeSport, the journalist said: "They may get a real bargain now, whether it's on loan or not, but I think Everton are in the market for attacking reinforcements.

"They need to replace Richarlison and if Nicolas Pepe is available on loan then it's something Frank Lampard might look at."

As O'Rourke alluded to, Everton have failed to replace their Brazilian forward Richarlison, who was sold to Tottenham Hotspur earlier in the summer for a fee of around £60m.

Only James Tarkowski has arrived at Goodison Park during the transfer window far, despite Lampard's attempts to reinforce his Everton side that narrowly avoided relegation last season.