Arsenal fans want swap deal with Newcastle, following new reports on 26-year-old

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Newcastle United are one of three Premier League clubs reportedly looking at a move to sign Arsenal wide man Nicolas Pepe in the January window. They face competition from Everton and Palace, but Newcastle seems the likeliest avenue – and Arsenal fans have want a swap deal with the Toon.

Pepe, 26, has failed to live up to his enormous £72million price tag – the club-record fee which Arsenal paid to lure him to The Emirates from Lille. Clocking up 98 appearances for the Gunners, he has scored 25 times but plenty have been from the penalty spot – and in the Cups.

The permanent addition of Martin Odegaard, and the improving form of Emile Smith-Rowe has firmly pushed Pepe out of the starting XI. He is a fringe player at Arsenal and one would assume that if a decent offer comes in for Pepe, he would be allowed to leave the club in the January window.

Jeunes Footeux say that Newcastle are battling Everton and Patrick Vieira’s Crystal Palace to sign Pepe. A loan-to-buy deal is expected in the January window for the out-of-favour winger – with Newcastle certainly in need of a winger. Perhaps, more so than their rivals in Everton and Palace.

Newcastle need Arsenal ace Pepe more than Everton and Palace…

Everton have brought in Demarai Gray and Andros Townsend for the combined fee of just £1.7million, and both players are on fire. Richarlison is also an option, being used out on the wide with Dom Calvert-Lewin up top. Everton are well-stocked, with Alex Iwobi and Anthony Gordon, too.

Crystal Palace slightly less so – though they have brought in Michael Olise. They have Arsenal fan Wilfried Zaha, Eberechi Eze and Jordan Ayew. Pepe would improve what Palace have – but they are hardly going to spend big to slightly improve on the impressive options they already have.

Newcastle need a man like Pepe. Ryan Fraser is struggling for form, and has done ever since moving to Newcastle. Eddie Howe might get a tune out of his former Bournemouth star – but time will tell. Jacob Murphy is being used as a right-back. They need a right winger and Pepe is ideal.

Arsenal fans want a swap with Newcastle, Saint-Maximin involved

Saint-Maximin, meanwhile, has been sensational in a Newcastle side that are struggling to fend off the threat of relegation. It will be interesting to see just how good Saint-Maximin could be in a side under Howe – where the shackles are taken off in an attacking sense.

Arsenal fans have reacted to the news that Newcastle want Pepe, and they have come up with an idea. They want to include Pepe in a deal to sign Newcastle’s talisman – with some suggesting a fee to go alongside the Ivory Coast ace. One fan proposed £15million, and Pepe for Saint-Maximin.