:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/64837587/1145214500.jpg.0.jpg)
David Ornstein has dropped a heavy, powerful bomb on Twitter regarding Arsenal, and it’s by all means one you should get incredibly excited about:
Arsenal have reached an agreement with Lille to sign Ivory Coast winger Nicolas Pepe for ~€80m, paid by instalments to fit #AFC budget. 5yr deal, agent agreement still needed but set to be closed in next 24/48hrs. Napoli also have agreement with #LOSC but agent rejected proposal
— David Ornstein (@bbcsport_david) July 27, 2019
The rumored fee heading to Lille would obliterate the ~£56 million Arsenal agreed with Borussia Dortmund for Pierre-Emerick Aubemeyamg in January 2018, and puts to rest any questions and concerns fans have had regarding the amount of money available to the club following a third-straight League finish outside of Champions League qualification. Pepe had been mentioned as a possible transfer target as early as January of this year, and if this goes through Arsenal will have bested rival clubs Manchester United and Liverpool for his signature.
The Ivorian, who was born and raised in France and has played previously at Angers, brings a directness on the ball that Arsenal has lacked since Alexis Sanchez’s departure, and gives head coach Unai Emery a true weapon to work with on the wing. His style of play is one in which it doesn’t take much to envision fitting in seamlessly with the way Emery prefers his sides to attack.
There still is a lot more to come, since we’ve seen a lot of deals elsewhere putter out steps from the finish line this summer, but for now watch the clip below and feel absolutely free to get excited on this now suddenly beautiful Saturday.