£72m Arsenal flop ‘reaches agreement’ with Besiktas as free transfer is promised; Juve pull out of Partey deal | OneFootball

Nicolas Pepe has not reached his potential at Arsenal.

Nicolas Pepe has agreed to sign for Turkish side Besiktas this summer as his departure from Arsenal edges closer, according to reports.

The Ivory Coast international signed for the Gunners in 2019 in a deal worth £72m, with Pepe becoming their record signing at the time, before Declan Rice took that crown with his £105m move to the Emirates Stadium this summer.

Pepe has only managed 80 Premier League appearances over his four seasons at the club with the 28-year-old scoring 16 goals and contributing nine assists for his team-mates in that time.

The former Lille winger spent last season back in Ligue 1 at Nice with Pepe grabbing six goals and no assists in 19 league appearances.

Pepe, who has been plagued by injury over the past few years, is now almost certain to leave Arsenal this summer with Turkish outlet Fanatik claiming Besiktas have ‘reached an agreement’ with Pepe over a transfer this summer.

It is understood that Besiktas have ‘shook hands’ with Pepe over personal terms and he is set to sign a three-year contract on €2.5m/year plus bonuses if the two clubs can agree a fee.

Fanatik even claim that Pepe’s agent has promised Besiktas that his client will go there for free once they’ve sorted out his contract termination at Arsenal, while Fenerbahce have also ‘contacted the player’.

Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano wrote on his Twitter over the weekend: “Turkish side Besiktas have now genuine interest in Nicolas Pépé — he’s out of the project at Arsenal and prepared to leave #Besiktas Negotiations will take place in order to discuss structure of potential deal.”

Thomas Partey is another player who has been linked with a move away from Arsenal this summer despite Mikel Arteta’s insistence that he wants him to stay.

And Italian website Tuttosport cover Juventus’ interest in Partey this summer with ‘talk’ of a fresh pursuit of the Ghana international.

Partey, who has a contract until the summer of 2025 at Arsenal, is 30 and Juventus deem the Gunners’ asking price as ‘too high’ for a player of his age and ability.

Speaking ahead of their pre-season clash with Manchester United in July, Arteta said of Partey: “Without a question of a doubt, Thomas Partey is a super important player for us and for me. I want him to be in the team.

“Every time I spoke to him and every time I have a conversation with him, his will is to stay with us. For me, there’s nothing there at all.”