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Home > Arsenal > Arsenal Make First Approach for €75m Rated Porto Winger, Enquire About a Potential Move in the Summer

Arsenal Make First Approach for €75m Rated Porto Winger, Enquire About a Potential Move in the Summer

Pepe, Porto, Arsenal

According to reports in Portugal, Arsenal have recently enquired about the possibility of signing FC Porto winger Pepe in the upcoming summer transfer window. The Gunners do have quite a few options in attack but they feel the need to bolster the forward department and thus, the Brazilian forward has emerged as a potential target.

All attackers including Gabriel Martinelli, Bukayo Saka and co. have stepped up this season, except Gabriel Jesus who has spent most of his season sidelined but has delivered when asked.

Pepe has played in seven different positions this season, including playing as a second fiddle and also as a right-back. However, he has bagged 5 goals and 9 assists after playing 45 games in all competitions this season (stats via Transfermarkt). This exhibits how versatile the 26-year-old is and could fit in wherever Mikel Arteta needs him to.

Pepe
Image Obtained Via FootballTransfers

According to a Portuguese newspaper, A Bola (via Football.London), Arsenal have approached FC Porto over the possibility of signing Pepe this summer. The Brazilian still has four more years left in his current deal at the Portuguese club, till June 2027, along with a release clause of €75 million (£66m).

Arsenal may have to pay the release clause to bring Pepe to the Emirates Stadium, but Porto are also looking for a way to raise funds and it could help the English side in the negotiations. The Brazilian attacker has been attracting interest from the North London side since last summer.

The 26-year-old primarily prefers to play as a left-winger but Porto manager Sergio Conceicao has deployed him in multiple positions. He has played as a left-winger, right-winger, second striker, right-midfielder, left-midfielder, right-back and also an attacking midfielder. Despite the constant change in position, he has been one of the consistent names on the starting lineup of the portuguese club.

The Gunners are currently on top of the Premier League table but need more personnel to challenge in all four competitions next season. They lost out on the EFL Cup and are currently out of the FA Cup and Europa League as well. Although this has helped them focus on the Premier League, it has limited them to the prospect of winning only one silverware after an amazing season.

Should Arsenal Trigger the Release Clause for Pepe?

For all the Arsenal fans, it may look like a dicey investment considering he’s not one of Europe’s most talked-about players. However, he has become an important part of the Porto squad. The Portuguese side will not want to lose him so easily and will try to maximize their profit with the winger’s sale.

The 26-year-old’s main attribute is his versatility and Mikel Arteta could use that to its full potential. The North London side do need another option on the right-wing and also at right-back. The Brazilian winger can play both those positions.

Pepe
Image Obtained Via TEAMtalk

The Porto attacker can also bring a degree of healthy competition within the squad that leads to all the players performing better. He could also be a direct replacement for Nicolas Pepe who is likely to leave Emirates Stadium in the summer.

The 26-year-old winger can also benefit from Brazilian connections like Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel Magalhaes, and Gabriel Jesus at Arsenal. This could accelerate and smoothen his transition to a new environment. In addition, Arsenal’s Sporting Director, Edu, also Brazilian, has a preference towards Samba Football.

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It is certainly a gamble for the English club but they could get huge dividends if things go their way. Either Arteta will have to find the Brazilian’s best position or continue to use him as a utility player.

Pepe’s versatility will help the Spanish manager achieve damage limitation when facing an injury crisis. However, the Gunners will still need some big-name signings if they are to compete in all four competitions next season.

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