Arsenal ‘very close’ to offloading flop as Edu agrees to end four-year spell with ‘contract termination’

Arsenal winger Nicolas Pepe is close to joining Turkish club Besiktas, according to reports.

Gunners manager Mikel Arteta has reportedly decided Pepe is not part of his plans for the new season and a summer exit is very likely.

The Ivorian winger joined the Premier League club from Lille in 2019 for a whopping £72million, which was their transfer record until Declan Rice’s £105m transfer from West Ham.

It has gone pretty quiet in regards to Pepe’s future, but rumours have gone into overdrive on Wednesday with Turkish Super Lig giants Besiktas now interested in taking the player off Arteta’s hands.

Arsenal have tried to shake off a reputation of terminating contracts and letting players leave for nowhere near enough. Konstantinos Mavropanos comes to mind.

However, it looks like Pepe is going to be the next big name to have his contract terminated during Edu Gaspar’s tenure as the club’s director of football.

An exclusive from Transfermarkt Turkey says Pepe is ‘very close to signing for Besiktas’ and has ‘terminated his contract with Arsenal’.

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Turkish journalist Erten Suzgun has also claimed that Besiktas have ‘made an official offer’, though it is not clear whether or not it was a bid from club to club or a contract offer to the player.

Interest from Besiktas has been reported in England with Evening Standard correspondent Simon Collings saying Pepe is being ‘targeted’ by the Istanbul outfit.

There is no mention of a contract termination here. The player’s current deal expires in 2024.

Meanwhile, the Express says three players are close to leaving Arsenal.

Pepe is one of those three and Besiktas obviously get a mention, although it is noted that the 28-year-old has interest from Saudi Arabia. Shock.

This report says the Gunners are ‘striving’ to receive a transfer fee for the Ivory Coast international, especially after spending around £199m on Rice, Kai Havertz and Jurrien Timber.

A termination of Pepe’s contract is not ruled out, however.

The other two players close to leaving the club are Auston Trusty – who is joining Sheffield United for £5m – and Brazilian winger Marquinhos – who is set to join Greek giants Olympiacos on a season-long loan.

The report also mentions Folarin Balogun, who is wanted by Inter and AC Milan after scoring 21 goals in Ligue 1 on loan at Stade Reims in 2022/23.

It is said Edu might need to ‘slash’ his £50m asking price with London rivals West Ham also believed to be keen.

Balogun does not want to go out on loan again and it is noted that he could stay at the Emirates.

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