A very interesting proposition was raised recently by former Leeds striker Noel Whelan. When talking about Arsenal attacker Nicolas Pepe, he suggested the player could be a decent fit at Newcastle United.
Whelan prefaced his suggestion by admitting the 26-year-old has failed to live up to his massive fee at The Emirates. However, a loan move with an option to buy could suit all involved parties.
Here is what Whelan told Football Insider about the Ivorian a couple of days:
“He’s been a massive failure – that’s for sure.
“When you consider the money they paid for him, he’s been very average.
“It’s a really bad bit of business from Arsenal. If they can get £25million for him, they need to be taking it – even if it’s a massive loss.
“Teams will be reluctant to pay that sort of fee for an inconsistent player like Pepe, though. It may well be a loan-to-buy deal.
“He’s really not contributed enough. Whether the Premier League is too tough for him, I don’t know – we know he came from France, which is a far easier league.
“A loan move may be something that Newcastle might fancy. These are the sort of players they will be targeting. He could turn his career around and end up being that big-ticket player. But right now, it’s a gamble.”
Newcastle were interested in Pepe when he was with Anger back in 2017. He joined Lille that summer before his £72m move to Arsenal two years later. A transfer that just hasn’t clicked for whatever reason.
Recent reports have claimed that Arsenal will cut their losses on Pepe and accept a fee of around £25m. That would be a dramatic loss and one they may even have difficulty finding takers for.
Whelan’s notion of an initial loan may be the best avenue. Pepe could fill a need for Newcastle on the right-wing despite his tepid form with The Gunners. He has a decent scoring record of 16 goals in 76 Premier League appearances, only 48 of which were starts.
After scoring 16 goals in all competitions last season, he has not featured much for Mikel Arteta this term. He has only 5 Premier League starts and his lack of opportunities has been a source of frustration.
Over the latest international break, Pepe expressed his disappointment with how this season has unfolded. However, he gave a mature response when asked about his lack of starts stating:
“I am focused on how well we do until the end of the season and the club’s target, which is getting into the Champions League. Then we will see what happens.
“When a team is winning it is hard for a coach to make changes.
“Mikel Arteta has explained that to me and the coach knows what I think and how hard I’m working.
“It is also about communication. Sometimes it’s not easy to communicate with the language barrier. It has been a tough season for me.
“Of course, it is frustrating not to play. No player enjoys not playing but I have to respect the coach’s decision and the team is doing well at the moment.”
While this seems a long shot, it will be interesting to see if Pepe leaves Arsenal this summer and where he ends up. A loan with an option to buy may not be the worst idea in the world though he may not fit Newcastle’s profile this summer.
135 comments so far
CLINT FLICK
Apr 12, 2022 at 7:47 PM
Comment #41Clinath
I reckon a large part of our catching up is the culture and team eork he’s busy building right now.
We’ve already seen a big leap in the right direction.
More quality, bedded in correctly, will give us another bump.
Romford mag
Apr 12, 2022 at 7:48 PM
Comment #42Mund
Wish we had those two now !
CLINT FLICK
Apr 12, 2022 at 7:49 PM
Comment #43CH
Na!
Bruno came of his own volition.
Priceless!
Romford mag
Apr 12, 2022 at 7:49 PM
Comment #44CH
Bruno and KDB 😉
coming home
Apr 12, 2022 at 7:50 PM
Comment #45Rom
Would be nice
coming home
Apr 12, 2022 at 7:51 PM
Comment #46Just asking as KDB and Pogba are considered world class but I wouldn’t swap with them
Sparky
Apr 12, 2022 at 7:52 PM
Comment #47Pogba no…but swapping KDB for Bruno is a much more difficult quandry…
Mmmmmmmm
Yes I would!
Romford mag
Apr 12, 2022 at 7:52 PM
Comment #48Pogba’s trouble I reckon
CLINT FLICK
Apr 12, 2022 at 7:53 PM
Comment #49KDB, a true great.
Pogba, pppffft!
If you don’t like this view, I’ve got others!
😀
Ta groucho!
coming home
Apr 12, 2022 at 7:53 PM
Comment #50Sparky
KDB is a hard 1 as he has the experience but Bruno has youth on his side
CLINT FLICK
Apr 12, 2022 at 7:56 PM
Comment #51Rather have Bruno.
CLINT FLICK
Apr 12, 2022 at 7:59 PM
Comment #52By this time next year, or sooner, everyone will want Bruno.
Eddie’s been holding him back for these big games, imv.
Could be a killer move, keeping him under wraps!
coming home
Apr 12, 2022 at 7:59 PM
Comment #53For me KDB is the best midfielder in the world yet I’m not sure I’d swap Bruno for him
CLINT FLICK
Apr 12, 2022 at 8:01 PM
Comment #54CH
That’s telling, isn’t it?
Most would greedily rive ya arm off…but…look at us…
😉
Sparky
Apr 12, 2022 at 8:01 PM
Comment #55Bruno will never be as good as KDB.
Sorry!
CLINT FLICK
Apr 12, 2022 at 8:03 PM
Comment #56Sparky
Don’t be sorry mate.
Time will out!
coming home
Apr 12, 2022 at 8:04 PM
Comment #57Sparky
You could be right
But you could be wrong
Only time will tell
Raj of Hailsley
Apr 12, 2022 at 8:04 PM
Comment #58ch,
Bruno or KDB?
Seriously, is that best you can do to try and stir the Bruno World class debate 😮
clinath@ed
Apr 12, 2022 at 8:05 PM
Comment #59I agree on that Clint (strange calling someone else that name) about the steady growth, both the purchase are the peaks, or step ups on the graph.
Wouldn’t mind the players below….
Emile Smith Rowe
James Ward-Prowse
Kalvin Phillips
Michael Olise
coming home
Apr 12, 2022 at 8:07 PM
Comment #60Jail
Yes best I can do
What you reckon
Sparky
Apr 12, 2022 at 8:07 PM
Comment #61De Bryne is only 30…he has another 5 years in him at least…Bruno could be gone in 5 years time…Id take the next 5 years of KDB in a flash.
Raj of Hailsley
Apr 12, 2022 at 8:09 PM
Comment #62Wow, Ferdandino announced he’s leaving Man City then the interviewer has told Pep, he was astonished 😳
Fenham to Chalfont
Apr 12, 2022 at 8:09 PM
Comment #63Evening all,
Pogba???? No no no no, NO!!!!
Eddie wouldn’t touch him with a barge pole.
Raj of Hailsley
Apr 12, 2022 at 8:11 PM
Comment #64ch,
It’s purely hypothetical because it’s not happening. We are right now then Bruno is perfect for us, if we were competing for titles of course we’d be better off with KDB.
coming home
Apr 12, 2022 at 8:11 PM
Comment #65Fenham
I agree but he has been called world class
Romford mag
Apr 12, 2022 at 8:14 PM
Comment #66A world class tool !
coming home
Apr 12, 2022 at 8:14 PM
Comment #67Jail
Off course it’s hypothetical that was what I was getting at
Not to stir crap as you suggested but just to stir discussion if that’s OK with you
Raj of Hailsley
Apr 12, 2022 at 8:15 PM
Comment #68I never suggested you were stirring crap, I said stirring debate.
Romford mag
Apr 12, 2022 at 8:16 PM
Comment #69Chelski
1 up
Paul Holmes
Apr 12, 2022 at 8:16 PM
Comment #70TOON FANS WORLD CLASS HAA HAA
Fenham to Chalfont
Apr 12, 2022 at 8:17 PM
Comment #71CH,
Not caught up with the blog, just seen Pogba’s name…
This player is such a prima-donna. If it’s not going his way his goys are out the pram. He is a class player on his day there is no doubt about that. However, far too much baggage. This man would absolutely walse into this club and definitely think he was bigger than the club.
Terrible professional. He will sign for the other black and whites the snide ones (Juve)
coming home
Apr 12, 2022 at 8:17 PM
Comment #72Ok well going on age and where we are in development I wouldn’t swap Bruno with no man
CLINT FLICK
Apr 12, 2022 at 8:19 PM
Comment #73Clinath
😀
Agreed on your picks.
Good choices.
I’d love schick and carassco.
Kal phil would be good too.
How old us W-P?
coming home
Apr 12, 2022 at 8:20 PM
Comment #74Fenham
Yeah I agree I only put his name forward as he is considered world class
Personally I’d be gutted if we signed him but he can play football
clinath@ed
Apr 12, 2022 at 8:24 PM
Comment #75Clint, don’t know their ages, but that doesn’t bother me. At this stage in our growth we want a mixture of older, finished article players to consolidate our position before the young stars flock to the TOON.
Having said that I’d love Bellingham, coz he’s from Stourbridge, where we moved down to when left home.
clinath@ed
Apr 12, 2022 at 8:24 PM
Comment #76Clint, don’t know their ages, but that doesn’t bother me. At this stage in our growth we want a mixture of older, finished article players to consolidate our position before the young stars flock to the TOON.
Having said that I’d love Bellingham, coz he’s from Stourbridge, where we moved down to when left home..
CLINT FLICK
Apr 12, 2022 at 8:25 PM
Comment #77Last thing we need is prima donnas.
Not much chance. Phew!
CLINT FLICK
Apr 12, 2022 at 8:25 PM
Comment #78* are
Prima donnas.
Paul Holmes
Apr 12, 2022 at 8:28 PM
Comment #79Fenham my opinion only but I think 70% of world class players are prima donnas but think Eddie will find that other 30 % who won’t rock the boat
CLINT FLICK
Apr 12, 2022 at 8:29 PM
Comment #80Clinath
I agree again, mate.
I’m not chowed about age, either.
Just wondered, as he seems to have been around a while.
Bellingham, ain’t seen much of him, tbh.
But he’s named after a little place in Northumberland.
😀