European giants ‘clearly deny’ Arsenal transfer despite outcast being ‘100% out of Arteta’s project’
According to reports, Turkish giants Besiktas are not closing in on Arsenal winger Nicolas Pepe, who is currently “100% out of Mikel Arteta’s project”.
The 28-year-old joined Arsenal from Ligue Un outfit Lille in 2019 for a deal worth around £72m.
Pepe enjoyed a decent season in 2020/21 as he scored 16 goals in 47 appearances but he has slipped down the pecking order under Arteta.
The winger spent last season on loan at OGC Nice in France and it felt like only a matter of time before he left Arsenal during the summer transfer window.
He did not leave Arsenal before the English transfer window closed but he is being linked with Besiktas and the transfer window in Turkey does not close until September 15.
It was claimed earlier this week that Pepe is set to finalise a move to Besiktas but this has since been denied by several outlets.
Journalist Firat Günayer has suggested that reports linking Pepe with Besiktas have been “clearly denied” by the Turkish outfit
Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano meanwhile is “not aware” of a done deal between Arsenal and Besiktas.
“Despite reports that a move for Nicolas Pepe to Besiktas is back on, I don’t have this information, as things stand,” Romano told Caught Offside.
“We will see what happens with Besiktas as interest is there since long time but I’m not aware of a done deal. Arsenal hope to find any solution for him as he’s 100% out of Mikel Arteta’s project.”
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Former agent Joe Smith has praised Arsenal for their “fantastic” summer business but he claims that they are “not yet the finished article”.
‘I watched the Arsenal game (against Man United) and I think their buys have been fantastic – although I’m not sure why they bought Kai Havertz. It’s only a personal view but why would you pay £65m for an off the bench player. That’s just my opinion,’ Smith wrote in his column for Caught Offside.
‘Arsenal are still not yet the finished, confident article. They still don’t like it if you put it up them, if you run at them, if you hustle them, but their ball playing abilities are fantastic.
‘I think they’re going to be there or thereabouts. For me, it’s them or Man City who are going to challenge this year. I think Mikel Arteta has done a remarkable job. The whole club is a smiley place to be!’
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