Mikel Arteta begins ruthless Arsenal cull with NINE stars not in Gunners boss’ plans but £140k-a-week flop will return
MIKEL ARTETA is set for a huge summer of outgoings with NINE players set to leave the Emirates after returning from loan this summer.
Arsenal flop Nicolas Pepe will head back to the Emirates after failing to secure a permanent move following a season on loan at Nice.
Now the Gunners fear being lumbered with the unwanted winger for the final year of his £140,000-a-week contract and are desperately looking to offload him.
Pepe, 28, remains the club’s record signing following his £72million move from Lille in 2019.
But he plays no part in Mikel Arteta’s plans after failing to make any kind of impression during his time in England.
Even though there was no option for Nice to buy the Ivorian international, Arsenal were hoping that he would do enough during his time at the Allianz Riviera to persuade them to make a bid.
But Pepe managed just six goals during an injury-troubled campaign which saw coach Lucien Favre sacked as the team owned by Sir Jim Ratcliffe struggled in mid-table.
Arsenal are still looking to receive some kind of transfer fee for the player but are not ruling out the possibility of allowing him to go out on loan again just to get him off their wage bill.
But if they cannot dump him in the next month, there is a chance that Pepe will be part of the squad which flies to the USA on July 16 for their pre-season tour to Washington, New York and Los Angeles .
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And he is not the only returning loanee whose situation is up in the air as Arteta and sporting director Edu look to clear the decks to make way for a summer reshuffle.
Folarin Balogun, Albert Sambi Lokonga, Nuno Tavares, Cedric Soares, Charlie Patino, Auston Trusty, Marquinhos and Alex Runarsson are also back at the club but don’t play any part in next season’s plans.
And with the exception of Brazilian rookie Marquinhos, who is likely to be loaned out again, Arsenal are ready to listen to offers for all of them to help offset the major spending spree currently being planned.
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