Everton are reportedly interested in signing Nicolas Pepe from Arsenal. The Ivorian winger has been on the fringes of the Gunners team since the emergence of Bukayo Saka.
Everton has just added one new player this summer, and the Premier League return is in only two weeks. With Richarlison departing Goodison Park for Tottenham Hotspur in a £60 million deal, Frank Lampard will likely be anxious at this point to bring in some fresh new talent.
Pepe was a hot prospect at Lille before Unai Emery signed him for £72 million. He became the record signing of Arsenal, but has shown very little to justify the huge price tag. However, the winger has had his moments in the past. Perhaps a change of scenery can do him good.
Mikel Arteta spoke well of the Ivorian in recent times, but one would feel that he has stagnated during his time in North London.
He hasn’t had the consistency sometimes in the game time, but I think in Europe he’s been terrific. And in the Premier League he’s started to show much more what he’s like, and he’s very hungry.
Mikel Arteta on Pepe in 2020/21
Nicolas Pepe: A Good Signing?
If the Toffees sign Pepe to replace Richarlison, they could get a great deal. The loss of the Brazilian has weakened Goodison Park’s forward line. If Lampard can make the most of the Arsenal winger, the 27-year-old and Dominic Calvert-Lewin could combine for many goals next season.
Everton will be aiming to get off to a strong start in the Premier League to guarantee that they do not suffer a similar fate to last season. The Merseyside club flirted with relegation and narrowly escaped it in the penultimate game of the season. Farhad Moshiri needs to move quickly and prioritise the signing of a forward over the coming weeks.
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