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Arsenal to parts ways with Nicolas Pepe and Pablo Mari

Arsenal could part ways with attacker Nicolas Pepe and centre-back Pablo Mari during this summer’s transfer window.

The Gunners have had a mixed campaign in the Premier League, but they are on course to qualify for the Champions League as things stand.

They still have plenty of work to do with five games left. However, the hierarchy are already working behind the scenes over potential exits.

Nicolas Pepe has not started a league game under manager Mikel Arteta for six months, and he appears the most likely to head for the exit door.

The Ivorian joined the Gunners from Lille for a club-record £72 million fee in 2019, and it was considered a tremendous signing at that point of time.

However, the 26-year-old has managed just 16 goals and eight assists from 77 league appearances, and he is now out-of-favour for a starting spot.

Bukayo Saka is clearly ahead of him for the right-wing role while Emile Smith Rowe and Gabriel Martinelli have been preferred on the other flank.

There have been talks of Pepe leading the line after Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s exit, but Arteta has preferred Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah.


Hence, there are no surprises that Pepe is frustrated with his situation. The Gunners are now prepared to cut their losses by selling him for just £25m.

The north London club fear his valuation could drop further amid his lack of minutes, and will sanction his sale in the next transfer window, as per The Sun.

Meanwhile, Pablo Mari could also be shown the exit door. He joined Udinese on loan in January, and the Serie A outfit are keen on a permanent move.

Mari made just three appearances for the Gunners this term. He has since turned out 11 times for Udinese, who are now clear of the drop zone.

As per football.london, talks over a permanent transfer are scheduled. The Gunners may accept a nominal fee, having bought him for an initial £5.4m from Flamengo.

Elsewhere, the Gunners are set for a mini windfall with the permanent departures of Konstantinos Mavropanos, Matteo Guendouzi and Lucas Torreira.

The trio are currently away on season-long loan deals. Stuttgart and Marseille have triggered the buy clauses for Mavropanos (£2.5m) and Guendouzi (£10m) respectively.

Torreira has also agreed terms over a permanent switch to Fiorentina. The north London club should receive around £12.6m as part of the buy option negotiated last year.

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