Would not call it an outrageous risk. Sure all transfers over 50 million have risks to it but if you look at it from their point of view - he has produced outstanding numbers for the past few seasons, is 24 so has a re-sale value and replaces the creativity and unpredictability from losing Sanchez. Auba replaced the goals but there was something missing in attack which he offers. Also the budget not being big enough for this - it is being heavily payed in instalments -something Palace refused on with Zaha. £40 million was never Arsenal's budget but that figure being taken as fact probably suited them when negotiating with clubs. You also have to look at wages - Pepe is on what 50k a week max at Lille. He's therefore probably not going to be over 150k in wages and for a big club that is affordable. Zaha is already on 150k a Palace and would no doubt want an increase. They have probably weighed all those things up and believe that Pepe is worth the risk.
Nicolas Pepe - Signs for Arsenal
- Thread starter Inigo Montoya
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We’re only ahead of Chelsea at the moment in terms of recruitment and they have a transfer ban. How embarrassing.
This is a very good signing for Arsenal. They will score more goals than us this season as things stand.
And concede 40,000
This is why deals are taking ages to be completed.
Rodri was only signed by City for the release clause.
Sporting want 70m+ for Fernandes. Palace want 80m for Zaha. They wanted AWB for 50m which seems a steal now. Maguire 80m etc etc...
It seems every half decent player is now rated at 60m+ unless they run their contracts low.
Pepe to Arsenal? Wow.
I get that. But you’ve missed my point. If I had a whole game highlight reel of you. I can tell if your control is good or not. I’m not talking about his overall play. I said his touch from what I’ve seen is not levels for a top team in tight games. Hell it could improve, it’s just what I’ve noticed.
Probably the fact that he's been the best player in France (outside of PSG) for the last 18 months or so. This is the modern day market - if he lives up to his potential then he's potentially double that money in two or three years if a Real or Barca come calling.
On a right winger which United still needs...Imagine if Arsenal actually spend more money than us.
Would’ve liked us to nab him, but he’s still raw. 80m is probably too much, but when since we’re absolutely starved of quality on the right he’d have been better than nothing.
Seems we were hell bent on spending big on a winger and honestly rather him than Zaha but even after this good news i can't help but wonder why are we not splashing this cash on a world class CB. We're playing a very risky game, adding big wages on the wings before getting rid of Mikhi and/or Ozil. He has to succeed and we're praying to every God known to mankind that Holding & Bellerin stays fit alongside Sokratis.
Sneaky bid for Jones I reckon.
So Arsenal, that everyone made fun of on here because of limited funds, are on the brink of spending more money than us. On a player that would fill the biggest hole in our squad. The right wing position. Couldn't make it up.
Yeah so much for only wanting to sign for a champions league club, fair play to Arsenal on getting this deal done with a low transfer budget, just shows what can be done if you have a proper transfer negotiator on the board. They may have a crappy owner in Kroenke but at least they have some football knowledge there.
Surely this will make Utd react in the transfer market now, I really hope that the Lukaku money does not just go on Maguire and that's it but starting to get the feeling that might well be the case which if true is a complete and utter disgrace.
Zaha was without doubt their first choice so this is slightly desperate to me, as if to show their fans that they can spend big.
Because there aren't any at the same price or a club who would accept an installed payment offer similar to the one with Pepe? If the club don't believe there is a defender who can significantly improve the defence then I don't mind them binding their time to find the right one. Signing Mustafi for 30 odd million ( the equiavelent to about 60 now) really put the club back and it's important that does not happen again. They obviously heavily believe in this Saliba and if he's as good as people are making out then I don't mind waiting for him. Also will add that signing a winger who can go past players puts a team's defence under significant less pressure. It's not something that is really talked about but is a factor when comes to defending.
It shows they care and are willing to improve.
Zaha was the first choice agreed but they have moved on to a player who has a similar skillset and better numbers so not really sure that's desperate. If they went and spent that money on an out and out forward or another number ten then I'd agree.
Seems like it and makes sense now as to why we are now the club the media is tipping Zaha to join. We can pay up front and Arsenal can't.
But Woodward left the tour just to get the transfers done so it's only matter of time mate.
The amount seems to be the same, Palace didn't want any installment structure and Lille didn't mind.
Fair enough but i think we should be able to find at least one CB in the world that can come in and be better than Mustafi without having to wait for 18y old Saliba to explode this season before joining us.
What? You mean a club who actually has a plan B is desperate. F*ck me. I wish we had a plan B instead of wasting our time cant even get plan A right. Fair play to them. Couldnt get an agreement with Zaha, move on to another target.
Yeah just like under Moyes. Big transfers incoming! And don't forget it's only just the end of July!!!1!
Now that's the spirit, we can do shit in the transfermarket the other teams can only dream of!
Buy a better player with plan B. Wish my Plan Bs were that good.
They lost their best CM and their best CB has gone AWOL. Safe to say it won't be better.
Didn't the Lille president say they had agreed fee with 4 clubs? According to Ornstein, Napoli couldnt agree terms with the agent.. Arsenal havent agreed terms with the agent either..
There are probably another club or two who are talking behind the scenes.
It's an auction..
Would be a surprise if Arsenal pull it off...
There are probably another club or two who are talking behind the scenes.
It's an auction..
Would be a surprise if Arsenal pull it off...
I could be wrong but I think he will be disappointing. Doesn't have the ability in tight spaces, apart from scoring goals not much else. Laca and Auba already get goals, so they needed a more creative player.
So we definitely aren't adding another player?
Pepe, Aubamayang and Lacazette is a fantastic front 3, pity they have not replaced Ramsay or signed a defender yet
Ceballos?
Yep. Great signing. Some will point to the high fee but their fans won't be thinking of that when they're enjoying watching him play for them week in week out.
We lost our 2nd best CM and we finished below them last season and we've strengthened less than them so far, so.. yeah, they win.
At least they've replaced Ramsey. We haven't replaced Herrera, addressed our central defense, or our right wing.
Cue commentators trying to go all French and call him Nicola Pepe.
beyond scant rumours of Maguire, every other rumour is fed my BS merchants or we've already leaked we're not paying for them.
Also, the only reason we know of the Maguire interest is because Rodgers said they rejected our bid. If we aren't willing to pay for Maguire, then it's VERY likely we will not sign another player.
great signing by arsenal, they will definitely finish higher than us next season
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And with Ceballos too. Emery is a very good manager. He overachieved with that squad last season.
Not mad that Arsenal signed him because I don't think he is really worth the outlay, but am seriously pissed off that we are getting outspent by freaking Arsenal. This 1 signing is way more than what we had spent this whole summer. They also reinforced their midfield with Ceballos, while Ed is busy wanking himself in the office.
Arsenal lacked width last year so for them it's a very good signing.
For us, yes we need a right winger and he'll be good for us in that case. Honestly, if we did sign him for that much money I'd still be annoyed. We can get better, and yes I know he's better than nothing. We do need to show a bit of patience, people are making Pepe sound like his the next Messi, he's still very much a risk and raw.
For us, yes we need a right winger and he'll be good for us in that case. Honestly, if we did sign him for that much money I'd still be annoyed. We can get better, and yes I know he's better than nothing. We do need to show a bit of patience, people are making Pepe sound like his the next Messi, he's still very much a risk and raw.
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