Arsenal supporters are getting excited about the prospect of a £72m transfer for Lille winger Nicolas Pepe.
And it would appear two members of the first-team squad are also anticipating the Ivory Coast international arriving at the Emirates Stadium before deadline day next month.
The Gunners have been linked with several wingers this summer and it seems they've finally settled on Pepe.
Football.london understand that the north London outfit are in advanced talks to sign the 24-year-old in a move that gives Everton a free run at Crystal Palace's Wilfried Zaha.
Pepe scored 22 goals and weighed in with 11 assists for Lille in Ligue 1 last season and would provide the Gunners with the sort of wide goal threat they have lacked since the days of Alexis Sanchez.
The reported fee is £72m which would make Pepe the club's most expensive signing ever, eclipsing the £56m on Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in the 2018 January transfer window.
This development comes just days after Lille president Gerard Lopez delivered a huge update on the winger's future.
"In terms of departures and arrivals, if a player leaves, we will go and get what we need," Lopez told La Voix du Nord, as per the Metro. "For Nico, it is almost done and he could have left last summer. It is true that there are big offers and big clubs in for him, so I think [he will leave].
"Aside from that, you never know in football."
A move to Arsenal looks to be in the final stages and there has been some mock-up images of Pepe in the club's new adidas home kit.
And some eagle-eyed supporters have noticed Granit Xhaka and Emile Smith Rowe 'liking' on particular image on Instagram.
Whilst this doesn't confirm Pepe is on his way to north London, the timing of Xhaka and Smith Rowe's social media activity won't be looked at as a simple case of a coincidence by some supporters.
Or are they aware of the club's transfer plans?
Whatever the case, Pepe's future should become clearer in the coming hours and days.
