Leeds United can provide platform for Nicolas Pepe to resurrect career after Raphinha departure
Leeds United are interested in making a move for Arsenal winger Nicolas Pepe this summer, according to Diario de Sevilla.
The Whites are in the market to sign a wide player as another potential replacement for Raphinha who has joined the Spanish club FC Barcelona.
As per the report, Leeds manager Jesse Marsch is keen on finding an instant replacement for Brazil International and has identified the Ivory Coast international as one of the targets to fill the void.
There are many players with a massive price tag in the Premier League that have flopped massively. We only need to look at Paul Pogba at Manchester United who came to the club on an £89m world record fee but never lived up to that billing.
At Arsenal, a similar kind of fate has been experienced by Pepe. The Ivory Coast international was signed by the Gunners in 2019 for a club-record fee of £72million.
However, he has not been able to fulfil the hype he had promised when he arrived from Ligue 1. In 112 appearances for the Gunners, Pepe has scored 27 goals and provided 21 assists in all competitions [Transfermarkt].
Even though he tends to play on the right wing, he can also play on the other side of the wing because of his pace and trickery
Will he be able to fill in the void Raphinha left? Only time will tell considering how influential Brazil international was for the club but one thing is for certain and that is that no player becomes bad or average overnight.
During his difficult time at the Emirates, Pepe has shown glimpses of his talent and with Raphinha leaving the club, he might well prove to be a good replacement on the right-hand side at the Elland Road.
In other Leeds United news, the Whites now want to sign this striker with a rival set to kickstart a major £30million+ transfer battle