Arsenal must keep Nicolas Pepe until the summer, where the club will be able to replace him in a Sadio Mane style transfer, with the signing of one of the hottest prospects around, Karim Adeyemi.
The German youngster plays for RB Salzburg and is currently regarded as one of the brightest prospects available for a transfer in the summer according to the Mirror.
Pepe will have two years remaining on his contract in the summer, and the Gunners need to decide whether to sell him or not.
But they have a great opportunity of replacing the Ivorian with Adeyemi and bringing him to the Premier League, similar to what Southampton did with Mane in 2014, and they were able to reap the benefits.
Red Bull Salzburg president Harald Lurzerg has confirmed that Adeyemi is available for a transfer but insists he won't be available until the summer.
Talking to Bild podcaster Bayern Insider , he said: “We are aware that Karim will probably take the next step next summer.”
The 19-year-old has been exceptional for the Austrian side this season scoring 11 goals in 13 league games.
But it is the UEFA Champions League, where the youngster has really made a name for himself, as he has been on the scoresheet four times in six matches so far this campaign, and his performances, in general, have really captivated the attention of the biggest clubs in Europe.
Nicolas Pepe has struggled to make an impact in an Arsenal shirt during the three seasons he has been at the club and with less than three years remaining on his contract, the Gunners are being urged to make a decision on his future.
His time at the club seems to be limited, especially after falling out of favour with Arteta in recent weeks.
This opens the door to the signing of Adeyemi, who can either feature on the wing, or as a central striker, which means he could also be the solution to the potential striker crisis approaching the club.
Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah’s contracts are set to expire in the summer transfer window, which will leave Arsenal extremely short in the attacking positions.
With Adeyemi being at £18million on transfermarkt.com , it is certainly a deal the Gunners should look to secure.
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