Arsenal are on the verge of completing a stunning £72million deal for Lille’s Nicolas Pepe.
Pepe has agreed a five-year deal to move to The Emirates, in what will be a club-record transfer.
The UK Mirror reports that the Gunners picked the 24-year-old over his compatriot Wilfred Zaha, because the Ligue 1 club accepted their payment structure.
Arsenal’s bid for Zaha fell down because Crystal Palace wanted at least £50million of a potential £75million deal up front.
On the other hand, Lille have proven far more open to receiving a much lower figure in advance, with the rest paid in the coming years.
This means Arsenal will hand over £20million upon the deal being completed, with the following £52million being split over the next four years, Lille receiving £13million per year.
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