Arsenal have reportedly reached an agreement with Lille to sign Nicolas Pepe for a club-record £72million.
The Ivory Coast winger, 24, could join the Gunners as early as this weekend after a breakthrough in talks between the two clubs.
According to BBC Sport, Pepe will pen a five-year deal subject to an agreement with his agent, after the Gunners fought off competition from Napoli.
The fee is set to be paid in instalments to fit Arsenal’s summer budget, which is understood to be just £40million.
Arsenal have already spent £27million to land William Saliba from Saint-Etienne before loaning the defender back to the French club.
The Gunners have also spent £6million on 18-year-old winger Gabriel Martinelli and signed Spain Under-21 international Dani Ceballos on loan from Real Madrid.
Pepe would become the club’s fourth signing of the summer and seemingly signal an end to their pursuit of Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha.
The Eagles rejected a £40million bid from Arsenal for Zaha earlier this summer, with the Ivorian’s price tag set closer to £80million.
If the Pepe deal goes through, the forward would become the most expensive Arsenal player of all time, eclipsing the £55million paid for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in 2018.
The Lille star took Ligue 1 by storm last season, netting 19 times and providing 11 assists in 32 games to catch the eye of several top clubs.
