---
title: "Arsenal make official Pepe bid – a statement of intent the Gunners need to make?"
canonical: "https://readarsenal.com/2019/07/18/arsenal-make-official-pepe-bid-a-statement-of-intent-the-gunners-need-to-make/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Charlie Smith"
section: "Articles"
published: "2019-07-18T08:48:30Z"
modified: "2019-07-18T08:48:31Z"
---

# Arsenal make official Pepe bid – a statement of intent the Gunners need to make?

Arsenal and Liverpool have both reportedly made a firm bid for Lille star Nicolas Pepe – but would he be a good signing?

According to [L’Equipe, cited by GFFN](https://www.getfootballnewsfrance.com/2019/nicolas-pepe-decision-time/), Lille have received ‘firm bids’ from the Premier League duo, along with Inter Milan, with the Ligue 1 side now waiting to hear back from Pepe regarding his preferred destination.

![Carlos Rodrigues/Getty Images Sport](https://cdn.readeverything.co/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/1002931976.jpg)

Signing a player of Pepe’s calibre would certainly be a real statement of intent by Arsenal.

The Ivorian is regarded as one of the hottest prospects plying his trade in Europe right now, with Paris Saint-Germain star Kylian Mbappe the only player who found the back of the net in Ligue 1 more times than Pepe last season.

The 24-year-old is lightning quick, technically brilliant and could complete a formidable front three alongside Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang if he made the move to the Emirates this summer.

However, with no Champions League football on offer at the club this season, the Gunners could find it hard to persuade Pepe to make the move to London.

Unai Emery has recently promised Arsenal supporters ‘three of four big signings’ this summer, so if they can land Pepe, it would certainly put a real statement out to the rest of the Premier League and all across Europe regarding their intentions for the upcoming campaign.