Arsenal agree stunning club-record fee for Ligue 1 sensation

Arsenal have agreed a deal in principle to sign Lille winger Nicolas Pepe for a club-record fee worth €80m (£72m), reports BBC Sport.

Pepe has emerged as one of the most exciting wingers in Europe’s top five leagues over the last 12 months and Arsenal are looking to hi-jack Napoli’s deal for the Ivory Coast international.

Arsenal have limited resources this summer but have managed to agree a deal with Lille to pay the fee in instalments in order to fit within their budget.

The Ligue 1 outfit have also agreed a fee for Pepe with Napoli but Carlo Ancelotti’s side have so far failed to agree personal terms with the 24-year-old.

Napoli’s proposal was knocked back by Pepe’s agent but Arsenal have managed to agree terms for a five-year deal and the next 48 hours will prove decisive in their pursuit of the Ivorian.

Arsenal’s pursuit of Pepe would suggest the Gunners have abandoned their interest in Pepe’s international team-mate Wilfried Zaha.

Zaha was Arsenal’s first-choice target but Emery’s side could not agree a fee with Crystal Palace, who are holding out for £80m.

Palace also dismissed the idea of the fee being paid in instalments and now the 26-year-old is expected to join either Everton or Chelsea.

Pepe was a revelation for Lille last season and helped Christophe Galtier’s side finished second behind champions PSG.

In fact, only Kylian Mbappe (40) played a direct hand in more league goals than Pepe (33) in Ligue 1 last season.

Furthermore, Pepe was the only player in the division to rack up double figures for WhoScored Man of the Match awards, picking up 13 in total.