Report: Marcel Brands wanted Arsenal star at Everton before Unai Emery moved

Add as preferred source on Google

The Athletic has claimed that Everton’s director of football Marcel Brands wanted to sign Arsenal winger Nicolas Pepe from Lille in the summer of 2019 – before Unai Emery swooped to bring the Ivory Coast international to North London.

Pepe, 25, joined Arsenal after having a hand in 35 goals for Lille during the 2018-19 season during 43 league and cup appearances – scoring 23 and creating 12 more. He agreed a huge £72million move to Arsenal, but it has not gone to plan.

The 24-time Ivory Coast ace has clocked up 60 outings for Arsenal but only managed to score 13 and create 13 more. That is even scoring some penalties, including one against Everton on Saturday – in which the Toffees won 2-1.

The latest report claims Brands wanted to sign Pepe from Lille following his stunning campaign for the Ligue 1 side, but Arsenal chose to hand him a five-year deal worth £100,000 a week (Spotrac). Everton, perhaps, have dodge a bullet.

TBR’s view – Would Pepe have been better at Everton?

Pepe is a good player, but the pressure at Arsenal has proved too much. At Lille, he was the club’s best player and his confidence was at its peak. At Arsenal, the criticism is enormous and Pepe has seemingly struggled to cope with that.

Pressure from the fans and pundits alike, the price tag and competition from Willian, Reiss Nelson, Bukayo Saka and more has seemingly stunted Pepe. He is playing as if he has the world on his shoulders. At Everton, would he have had more success?

Potentially. There would have been less pressure and he probably would have been first choice in the front three at the start of the 2019-20 season. Alongside Richarlison and Dom Calvert-Lewin, Pepe could have been a success at Everton.