Arsenal are on the verge of completing the £72m transfer of Ivory Coast International Nicolas Pepe.
The Lille winger caught the eye of clubs all across Europe by scoring 22 goals and providing a further 11 assists during 38 Ligue 1 appearances last season.
The Gunners who have seemingly beat off competition from Paris Saint-Germain and Napoli amongst others to close in on the signing of the 24-year-old.
Having proven himself in one of the top European leagues, the winger is now ready to take the next step, however, the future didn't always look so bright for the player.
Pepe started his career in the lower leagues of French football, playing for Poltiers FC from the age of 14, but despite his obvious ability, scouts would not show an interest in the then youngster.
"We had recruiters at Poitiers every weekend and they never approached him. Never," Philippe Leclerc, the club's sporting director, told Bleacher Report.
"Because he was a bit willowy, with his long legs. You could see that he had good technique, but he didn't correspond to the criteria that the [professional] clubs were looking for.
"He also had an attitude that was a bit casual. People thought he was inconsistent or that he was lazy in certain situations. Everything seemed so simple with Nico. And that's why he slacked off every now and again."
"He was playing for an amateur club and he hadn't yet turned 18. But he was the best player on the pitch,"
"The Nantes coaches were flabbergasted to see a talent like that playing amateur football."
Ligue 1 side Angers did take a chance on the youngster in 2013, and despite a difficult start to life at his new club, the winger eventually proved that they were right to give him a chance.
The 24-year-old moved to Lille in 2017, but now looks to be on his way to the Premier League.
