Arsenal wanted Pepe

According to L’Equipe, Arsenal were interested in adding another name to their ranks during the summer transfer window – Nicolas Pepe. The Gunners were very busy with Unai Emery wanting to reinvent the squad from the ground up, but as it turns out, he wanted someone else to walk through the front door at the Emirates.

Pepe, 23, joined Lille last year and since then, he’s been able to establish himself as one of the most effective wingers in French football. As it turns out Arsenal weren’t the only side who wanted to sign him, either, with the report suggesting that Real Betis, Lyon and Sevilla all wanted to bring Pepe to their clubs.

Lille did indeed receive an offer of £31 million for Pepe over the summer, but it hasn’t been revealed which of the above four teams made the enquiry – or whether or not any other teams also submitted bids.