Report: Club have just made their first move to sign ‘phenomenal’ Arsenal player, he’s open to leaving

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French outfit Nice have made contact over loaning Arsenal winger Nicolas Pepe and bringing him back to Ligue 1.

It has been clear all summer that Pepe is surplus to requirements and Mikel Arteta would let him go if he could find a suitor.

Nice Matin report that Nice have come to the front of the queue for the Ivory Coast international and have made their move.

For his part, Pepe would apparently be open to the switch which would see him go back to the division where he shone with Lille.

Nice make contact with Arsenal to loan Pepe

Nice are also looking at ambitious swoops for the likes of former Manchester United striker Edinson Cavani and sought-after Bamba Dieng.

And Pepe is another option they are exploring, having instigated talks with the Gunners over loaning him in.

It remains to be seen whether Arsenal would go big for another winger to take Pepe’s spot in the side but they pushed hard to sign Raphinha earlier this summer.

Despite being praised by Arteta and lauded as a ‘phenomenal‘ player, it’s a fair assessment to say Pepe hasn’t hit the heights expected since arriving at Arsenal.

He remains the Gunners’ record signing but the club are thought to have come to terms with the fact they won’t be seeing a hefty return on that investment.

Now it is a case of seeing whether a loan move can be completed which would put him in the shop window and potentially get his value back up.