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When Nicolas Pepe signed for Arsenal in the summer of 2019 there was much fanfare.

It wasn't every day that the Gunners threw such vast sums of money around, as Unai Emery and co smashed the club's transfer record and shelled out £72m on the Ivorian.

Whether the winger had exceptional numbers or not, that was a lot of cash for someone who was still relatively unproven.

That said, when you welcome a new attacker through the door, there is always going to be widespread excitement.

Here was a player who had bagged 22 times in 38 Ligue 1 outings the campaign prior for Lille, proving himself to be one of the best in the French top flight.

Sadly, Pepe has and likely never will live up to his true potential at the Emirates Stadium.

What went wrong for Nicolas Pepe at Arsenal?

After being signed for such a huge price tag, you either sink or swim.

Chelsea are currently feeling the negative impacts of spending upwards of £88.5m on Arsenal target Mykhailo Mudryk in January, with the Ukranian so far having registered just a solitary assist during his nine outings in Blue.

There are worrying parallels to that of Pepe, who has also struggled significantly during his time on English shores.

Overall, the Ivory Coast international has found the net on 27 occasions while also supplying 21 assists. The quality of each goal is well measured too, with few boasting a better left foot across Europe.

Who can forget his dipping curler from the edge of the box against West Ham or his late free-kick against Vitoria Guimares in the Europa League that picked out the top corner.

Sadly, that quality has been few and far between with the 27-year-old largely reduced to a role on the bench.

So unconvincing has the 6-foot wide man's time in the English capital been, that he's now back in France, on loan at Nice. His eight goals across all competitions are unspectacular and suggest that a lack of consistency still plagues Pepe.

That has been his biggest issue since that mega-money move, even if he did score 16 goals across the 2020/21 campaign.

That record is more than handy but the price tag involved always denoted that he should be reaching truly awe-inspiring numbers.

As such, it has rather harshly seen him labelled as the Premier League's "biggest flop" by African football journalist Ezzedine Said.

Pepe's best position is arguably on the right-hand side of an attack and because of that, it's unlikely he'll ever be a regular in this Arsenal team.

After all, the French-born asset has paid the price for Bukayo Saka's emergence on the scene, a young dazzling star who is now 'the best right winger in the world' – as per Arsenal's GOAL correspondent, Charles Watts.

Few would argue against that statement with the 21-year-old having scored three goals at the Winter World Cup, while registering 13 strikes and ten assists for Arsenal throughout the current campaign.

Pepe was always going to struggle to get in ahead of someone like that and it was typical that Saka's first full season of football came during the former Lille star's debut campaign in England.

Of course, the England international did start out as a left-back in this Arsenal side, but his swift progression into becoming a real Premier League star as a right-winger saw Pepe simply forgotten about.

Arsenal's current number 7 only actually played twice on that right-hand side during the 2019/20 campaign, but the following term, after the club's record-signing had scored just eight times, he featured on as many as 20 occasions from the right.

It was from that campaign that Saka leave Pepe in the dust, without a chance of ever reaching his true potential at the club. For the Gunners, that has only been positive. For the £72m man in question, though, it has left him without a permanent home for the 2022/23 campaign.

As a result, few would bet against the £140k-per-week flanker still being in Islington come next term.

Chelsea have 'got in touch' to bring Porto forward Pepe to the Premier League, according to reports.

What's the latest on Pepe to Chelsea?

Todd Boehly could reportedly be ready to sanction a mass exodus in the summer – to help ease the club's financial pressures – with the likes of Christian Pulisic and Hakim Ziyech facing uncertain futures. Indeed, this also means attacking reinforcements could be needed, which is where Pepe comes into play.

The Brazilian’s contract at the Estadio do Dragao isn’t set to expire until 2027 but his impressive performances have caught the eye of Graham Potter. His side were credited with an initial interest in the winger by Record and Portuguese outlet A Bola later revealed that the Blues, alongside top-flight rivals Arsenal, both sent scouts to watch their target in action late last year.

Even though a deal failed to materialise in January, they may have already taken a second bite of the cherry.

According to Globo Esporte (via Sport Witness), Chelsea and the Gunners “got in touch” with Pepe and are the two teams that have emerged as the “strongest” suitors should he leave Porto. The Primeira Liga starlet has “already received offers” ahead of the upcoming window, one of those being a bid worth €50m (£44m) after the player’s representatives were “approached”, though it’s unknown which club that came from.

Would Pepe be a good signing for Chelsea?

Pepe has been lauded an “important” member of Porto’s first-team squad by journalist Fernando Campos and looking at how fearless and prolific he can be in the final third, Chelsea would definitely be getting an excellent acquisition should they be able to sign him.

Sergio Conceicao’s attacker has recorded eight assists and five goals across all competitions this season, as per Transfermarkt, showing how regularly he takes the chances that he creates. The £25k-p/w talent also ranks in the 99th percentile for successful dribbles, highlighting his desire to take on and beat his marker.

Porto’s forward will know what it takes to be successful having lifted four trophies during his time at the club so could bring that winning mentality and instill it into the rest of the squad in SW6. Since the start of his career, Pepe has operated in seven various positions across the pitch, including in the midfield and on the wing down both the left and right flanks, so would add plenty of versatility to Potter’s team should he put pen to paper at Stamford Bridge.

Arsenal have not only enjoyed progress on the pitch over the last couple of seasons, with Mikel Arteta’s philosophy paying off, but their business in the transfer market has been wonderful.

Since the start of the 2021/2022 season, the Spaniard has signed Martin Odegaard, Ben White, Gabriel Jesus, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Fabio Vieira, however the deal to bring English goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale to the club has been one of his finer pieces of business.

He joined for a fee of £24m in 2021 from Sheffield United, and it was clear that Arteta wanted someone who could become their undisputed No.1 between the sticks, ending years of chopping and changing ‘keeper every season or two.

The 24-year-old has not only performed well since joining the Gunners, but his value has now soared, and it appears as though Arteta has struck gold on the player.

How much is Aaron Ramsdale worth now?

According to the CIES Football Observatory, Ramsdale now has a market value of €60 (£53m), which represents a massive 120% rise from the initial financial outlay just under two years ago.

This will only continue to rise too, especially if he can maintain his wonderful performances and Arsenal might finally have an heir to the great David Seaman, nearly 20 years after he left the club.

Across 27 Premier League matches this term, he has kept 12 clean sheets, made 2.3 saves per game – at a success rate of 71% – and succeeded with 100% of his run-outs each match.

He has only committed one error leading to a goal since the start of the league season, and he won 100% of his total duels while taking 32.5 touches of the ball per game, proving that he is comfortable at playing out from the back and building attacks.

With three caps for England, he has a bright future with the national team also, especially if he continues his current rich vein of form.

The Gunners have the joint-second the best defensive record in the Premier League, conceding 25 goals in 27 matches. While a back four of White, William Saliba, Gabriel and Zinchenko has been a large part of that, Ramsdale’s performances in goal have given the club a wonderful chance of winning a first league crown in 19 years.

He was hailed by Arteta for making an “incredible” save against Leicester City last season and having been signed as a player of excellent potential, he has blossomed into one of the best ‘keepers in the country.

The 40-year-old won’t be looking to sell him anytime soon, but with his value looking like it will only increase, he could very well be tempted should a massive offer arrive in the next few years.

The major talking point surrounding Newcastle United this week ahead of tomorrow’s League Cup final has been centred on the goalkeeping situation, with Magpies boss Eddie Howe having been dealt an unwanted headache following Nick Pope’s red card in the recent defeat to Liverpool.

While that suspension has somewhat soured the mood heading into Sunday’s clash with Manchester United, one notable positive for the Tynesiders will be the return of influential midfielder, Bruno Guimaraes, with the Brazil international having served his three-game domestic ban in recent weeks.

The former Lyon man – who arrived at St James’ Park on a £40m deal in January 2022 – was dismissed late on the semi-final, second-leg victory over Southampton, subsequently ruling him out of the last three Premier League games.

Thankfully, the 25-year-old will be able to feature against the Red Devils at Wembley, with the northeast side having notably failed to win any of the six games that the ten-cap gem has been absent for this season, with Guimaraes having been ruled out through injury earlier on in the campaign.

That fact has laid bare just how integral the £120k-per-week maestro is to Howe’s side, hence the notable lift that it could give to the club to be able to have the playmaker back in action.

Should Guimaraes play against Man United?

As teammate Kieran Trippier only recently stated, the Rio-born superstar is a truly “massive” asset for Newcastle, with the latter man having shone over the last 12 months or so in the centre of the park.

Despite largely operating in a deep-lying role in front of the back four, Guimaraes has already managed to chip in with nine goals and four assists in 41 games in all competitions for the club to date, while he also ranks in the top 5% among his European peers for successful take-ons.

It is the 6-foot sensation’s defensive prowess that has particularly caught the eye, however, with the “world-class” ace – as described by club colleague Dan Burn – also ranking in the top 10% for tackles made.

That quality was evident when Howe’s men came up against the Old Trafford outfit back in October, with that goalless draw in Manchester seeing the midfield menace win five ground duels and register one key pass, having produced an ‘excellent display’, in the words of The Chronicle’s Lee Ryder.

Guimaraes will no doubt be looking to dominate Erik ten Hag’s side once again this time around, with the one-time Athletico Paranaense man likely to fancy his chances up against a midfield that has chopped and changed in recent weeks, following the loss of Christian Eriksen to injury.

The Red Devils will likely be fearful of coming up against such a “magnificent” talent – as lauded by club legend Alan Shearer – with the Brazilian potentially set to prove vital to Newcastle’s hopes of glory.

YouTuber and TalkSport contributor Mark Goldbridge has urged Manchester United to play Victor Lindelof as a holding midfielder this weekend as Casemiro continues to serve his suspension.

The Lowdown: Midfield injuries

Erik ten Hag’s side are currently without three central midfielders due to injury, with Scott McTominay, Christian Eriksen and Donny van de Beek all carrying some form of knock.

Meanwhile, Casemiro is unavailable due to his red card against Crystal Palace last week. The Brazilian was sent off after putting his hands around the throat of Will Hughes.

This past week saw the Red Devils opt to play Fred, Marcel Sabitzer and Bruno Fernandes in midfield in their previous Premier League clash with Leeds United, with a trip to Elland Road to come against their midweek opponents.

The Latest: Lindelof holding midfielder?

Speaking on The United Stand, Goldbridge pitched his starting XI for Sunday’s meeting and justified why he would put Lindelof in the holding-midfield role.

He stated: “Casemiro can’t play, so the question is, who are you going to make play the holding midfielder? And I don’t think Sabitzer or Fred can do that. I think it’s a big ask, defensively.

“So I would play Lindelof. I’d give Lindelof a go. Lindelof’s not going to make runs into the box that Casemiro does to score goals. He’s probably not going to hit the sort of passes that Rashford’s benefited from Casemiro, but he can certainly drop in between the two centre-backs.

“He can certainly take the ball off the centre-backs, and he’s certainly defensive and combative because he’s a centre-back.”

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The Verdict: Selection conundrum

In our view, it’s a difficult situation for Ten Hag, as his recent injury crisis and Casemiro’s suspension has limited his midfield options.

We believe there are three candidates to play that holding midfield role in Lindelof, as they’ve all played there in the past.

Going by most recent experience, Fred is probably the best to slot into that position. He’s played there in the Premier League this term, whilst Lindelof and Sabitzer have played there considerably less often and haven’t operated there in the 2022/23 campaign to date.

Ten Hag has certainly done a stellar job with Man United this season, so in our view, we trust him to get it right when selecting his team for the trip to Elland Road, but we don’t feel he needs to take an unnecessary risk despite Goldbridge highlighting Lindelof’s versatility.

James Maw of The Athletic claims that Djed Spence could have some form of future with Tottenham Hotspur despite a loan move to Stade Rennes last month.

The Lowdown: Spence makes loan move

Spence left Antonio Conte’s side this month and will be on loan with the Ligue 1 outfit until the end of the season.

The deal contains no obligation or option to buy for Rennes, meaning he will definitely head back to north London at the end of the season.

Tottenham only bought the player last summer, but he’s struggled for game time this season. Spence has only featured four times for Spurs in the Premier League.

The Latest: Maw makes Spence claim

Speaking to The View From The Lane podcast, Maw claimed that the straight loan is not something you see often in football nowadays and claims the player will be at Spurs next season.

He stated (22:24), “It’s quite rare that you’ll see a loan deal like this with no option or obligation these days. Normally, it will come with one or the other.

“So maybe that’s quite telling the fact that there this is an expectation that he’ll be back at Tottenham next season, and that things will suddenly be different.”

The Verdict: An uncertain future

We believe that if Spence is to have some sort of future with Tottenham, then he’ll have to really impress on loan at Rennes between now and the end of the season.

A straight loan certainly indicates that Spurs have no intention of letting him go immediately, but in our view, there’s one factor around his Spurs move that is a concern.

Conte claimed that signing the 22-year-old was not his decision, it was the club who saw him as an ‘investment’ and not the Italian.

This could mean that the full-back will have to make a massive statement if he’s to impress Conte, he could be harder to impress if he wasn’t signed by him specifically.

What could work in his favour is if Conte leaves at the end of the season when his contract runs out, a new manager may give Spence more opportunities in the first-team next season.

Ex-footballer Trevor Sinclair labelled Spence as ‘the real deal’ when he joined the club after his loan spell with Nottingham Forest.

He told TalkSport that he ran Arsenal players Kieran Tierney and Gabriel Martinelli ‘ragged’ in an FA Cup match last season.

Spence has bags of potential and shown what talent he has last season, but he needs to grasp this loan opportunity with both hands if he is to have a long-term future at Spurs under Conte or another manager.

Manchester United appear to have developed a knack for producing promising young wingers in the recent past, with Argentine sensation Alejandro Garnacho the latest starlet to be earning the plaudits after breaking into the first team.

It was only a year ago, however, that Anthony Elanga was emerging as the new poster boy for interim boss Ralf Rangnick, with the dynamic Swede having been thrust into the action following the former Schalke man’s appointment.

In a period of doom and gloom for the Red Devils, the pacy wide man was a rare ray of sunshine for the club, having been a “breath of fresh air” with his electric presence down the flanks and willing work ethic, as per club legend Dennis Irwin.

The high point of the 20-year-old’s campaign undoubtedly came away to Atletico Madrid in the Champions League back in February, with the versatile winger – who has featured through the middle this season – slotting home past the imperious presence of Jan Oblak to spark jubilant scenes among the visiting support.

Fast forward 11 months, however, and it is a much different scenario for the nine-cap speedster, with rumours abound that he could be set to move out on loan after slipping down the pecking under Erik ten Hag.

While the Malmo native has featured 18 times in all competitions this season, only seven of those outings have come from the start, with the 5 foot 10 ace now appearing to be “suffering” as a result of his over-exposure in the senior ranks, according to journalist Muhammad Butt.

The forward’s woes are laid bare by the fact that he hasn’t scored since that standout night at the Wanda Metropolitano, with it hard to see just what the £5k-per-week dud is offering to the Old Trafford outfit at present.

With Ten Hag seemingly in need of an upgrade to add further firepower to an already depleted forward line, the 52-year-old could well find a solution in the form of Elanga’s international colleague, Jesper Karlsson.

According to The Sun, the 24-year-old is one of a number of Dutch-based talents that the former Ajax boss is keeping tabs on, having already raided the Eredivisie over the summer to secure the services of Tyrell Malacia, Lisandro Martinez and Antony.

The “unpredictable” and “inventive” playmaker – as described by transfer insider Dean Jones – has caught the eye as a result of his standout form for current side AZ Alkmaar, having already provided seven goal involvements in just 15 games across all fronts this term.

That follows what was a particularly productive 2021/22 campaign in which the former IF Elsborg dynamo netted a staggering haul of 21 goals and 16 assists in 51 games in all competitions.

Clearly more of a threat in the final third than Elanga – who has just four goals and three assists to his name in 47 senior appearances for United – Karlsson is also something of a creative hub for his side as he has averaged 4.12 progressive passes per game over the past year, with that far beyond the average of the struggling Red Devils man (1.06).

With the Alkmaar sensation also unlikely to prove too costly for Ten Hag and co – having been valued at around €20m (£18m) – it should prove something of a no-brainer to make a move in the near future.

Leeds United are reportedly very interested in signing Borussia Dortmund star Raphael Guerreiro this year and the Portuguese left-back could be Jesse Marsch’s own Joao Cancelo at Elland Road.

TEAMtalk suggested in December that the Whites were readying a contract offer for the 29-year-old who looks set to leave Signal Iduna Park this year, as his contract is set to expire at the end of the season.

Leeds could approach the Portugal international on a pre-contract deal now but may be convinced to bring him to Elland Road this month considering Marsch’s lack of options at left-back, with “liability” Junior Firpo having flattered to deceive since joining the club from Barcelona.

It would undoubtedly be a coup for the Yorkshire outfit if they could sign Guerreiro this month, given that he has experience playing at the top level with Dortmund in the Champions League, with two goals in just four appearances in Europe so far this campaign.

This season has seen the left-back contribute one goal and two assists in 12 Bundesliga appearances, with WhoScored awarding him a solid 6.88 average rating.

Considering this would rank him as the second-best performer in Leeds’ squad, it is clear the quality he could add to Marsch’s squad, and it is easy to see why Victor Orta is reportedly so keen to do a deal.

Dortmund manager Eden Terzic was full of praise for the defender last year, saying: “[He is] an amazing player. So you see especially against a deep defending side, we want him to get on the ball because he makes things happen.”

Should he arrive at Elland Road this year, he could potentially emulate Portuguese teammate Cancelo, who has established himself as one of the world’s best in his position since joining Manchester City, contributing nine goals and 21 assists in 122 appearances for the Citizens.

According to FBref, Cancelo is the second-most similar player to Guerreiro when compared to other full-backs across Europe.

The two players have registered remarkably similar statistics this season with regard to goals and assists per 90 (0.26 vs 0.23), passes leading to a shot (26 vs 28) and blocks (14 vs 15).

WhoScored also suggests that both Cancelo and Guerreiro excel at passing and holding onto the ball, which suggests they are modern, attack-minded full-backs.

Given Cancelo’s success at City, Marsch would surely be foolish to turn down a player so similar, so he should do all he can to bring Guerreiro – who could command around £22m – to Elland Road this month.

Manchester United have illuminated the right-back department as one needing swift reinforcement, and the youthful speedster Jeremie Frimpong is top of the January shopping list.

Frimpong has been of interest to the Red Devils since before the World Cup, with Sky Sports Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg confirming the club’s interest in the Bayer Leverkusen starlet and stating that talks would commence following the international tournament.

Furthermore, Steve Bates, speaking to GIVEMESPORT, has claimed that the pieces to the puzzle fall kindly in the favour of United boss Erik ten Hag, who is enamoured with his offensive skill set.

Bates said: “He speaks English perfectly; he was brought up here, and he’s Dutch, so Ten Hag has got an in there let’s say that. And I think he’ll be certainly on the shortlist of players United will be looking at.”

The path to a concrete move remains hazy, obscured by rival interest from the likes of Chelsea, according to Football Transfers, and Ten Hag will indeed be to move swiftly if he is to ensure the ace’s Premier League future lies in Manchester. 

“Outstanding”

Man United are indeed prioritising the right-flank, with Frimpong’s pace and offensive prowess viewed as the ideal counterpoint to first-choice Diogo Dalot’s dynamic approach to his play.

Despite signing for Old Trafford for an initial £45m, Aaron Wan-Bissaka has tumbled down the pecking order and faces an uphill battle that teeters on a clamber up a sheer cliff edge.

Reports earlier this year indicated that United were open to selling the 25-year-old in the summer, and now, having made just two appearances and one start under Ten Hag’s tutelage, the sandglass is near empty. 

With Dalot’s position indeed cemented, the Red Devils need a more offensive-minded marauder to fight for a place in the team, and having scored five goals and three assists from just 21 appearances this term, Frimpong might fit the bill.

His youthful age of 21 years old bolsters his prospects of earning a move to one of football’s most illustrious outfits, with a spiky sheen of attacking intent fitting Ten Hag’s forward-thinking philosophy to a tee.

United’s Dutch manager is attempting to rewrite the script at the Theatre of Dreams, instilling confidence and that ‘fear factor’, fusing it together with a cohesive gel.

As per FBref, the “outstanding” – as hailed by Neil Lennon – former Celtic gem ranks within the top 2% of full-backs in Europe’s big five leagues for non-penalty goals, the top 9% for assists and the top 1% for dribbles completed over the last 365 days.

And, at a club brimming with offensive guile such as Man United, there is no reason why Frimpong can’t nurture his abilities and blossom into a formidable and devastating tool down the right side of the attack.

Former Tottenham and England number one Paul Robinson has urged Jordan Pickford to move on from Goodison Park and refrain from signing a new deal, according to Football Insider.

The Lowdown: Sixth season finale?

Now in his £30m Pickford may be looking to use his reputation as England’s number one to leverage a move to a more competitive football club.

At the age of 28, he is yet to win silverware, and will surely be analysing his prospects with Everton now in another relegation battle, having recently been linked with a move away.

The Latest: Pickford urged to leave

According to a report from Football Insider, Pickford has been urged to avoid extending his time at Everton and instead “push on” from the club, with Robinson saying:

“I think the time has come for Jordan Pickford to push on.

“If he has a good World Cup, I’m sure there will be takers for him in the summer. His stock was high going into the World Cup anyway.

“He has been performing at a very high level for a long time now. He has earned a new contract at Everton. For Everton, he has been a big influence on and off the field.
“I think now is the time for him to push on though. Everton aren’t going to be playing European football anytime soon. Pickford is not getting younger, and I’m sure he has ambitions to play in the Champions League. He is capable of doing that.”

The Verdict: Needs a move

Robinson’s latest admission is a fair one.
Pickford certainly has the ability to operate at a higher level and is in danger of wasting that talent if he is to avoid pushing on from Goodison Park and instead commit his long-term future.
Ultimately, this comes down to his ambitions in the game.
If the England World Cup star aspires to win silverware, he should be looking to make the move to a side higher up the Premier League table, or even abroad.

His spell at Everton has been great for his development, but with the star now in and around his prime years, he should cash in on his current ability and leverage a move to a silverware-chasing side.