Nicolas Pepe looks set to be Arsenal's big marquee signing this summer.
The Lille winger is on the verge of a £72million move to the Emirates, in a transfer that has shocked many people who thought the Gunners only had a £45million transfer budget this summer.
Head coach Unai Emery has so far been hamstrung by the budget at his disposal, but the Gunners are going all out to secure a big-money move for the Ivory Coast forward.
Arsenal were interested in Pepe last summer and in the January transfer window too, but could not get a deal over the line.
And while the transfer is not yet complete, football.london does understand that the Gunners are in advanced talks to sign Pepe, who scored 22 goals and set up 11 assists for Lille in Ligue 1 playing down the right flank, this summer.
Arsenal were beaten 2-1 by Lyon in the Emirates Cup on Sunday, and among other things, Pepe was high on the agenda for the journalists in attendance.
And Emery was open to discussing the move for Pepe after the match.
He said: "We are working, the club, and also thinking how we can improve and there are different players with the possibility if we can achieve their signatures.
"Pepe’s a very good player and also we are thinking about only players who really, really improve this squad. And also give us some different conditions to improve.
"We are working for the last few weeks, and before starting the season, the first match in Newcastle, to get the best team with the best players in our squad."
