Liverpool has long had the upper hand over its rivals when it comes to transfers, but it is no surprise that as Arsenal has begun to make some more astute purchases, Mikel Arteta’s side has climbed the table.
At the same time, the lack of a midfield signing in 2022 cost the Reds dearly, with Jürgen Klopp’s side overtaken by the Gunners. Both sides have spent again this time around, and the expectation is that both can kick on.
Before Arsenal went big on Declan Rice this summer, Nicolas Pépé remained the Gunners’ record signing at a remarkable $90m (£72m/€84m). That transfer was sealed in 2019 after a campaign in which the Ivory Coast forward had netted 23 goals and provided a further 12 assists.
Liverpool was linked all summer (2019) with a move for Pépé but Klopp’s side insisted there was nothing in speculation coming from France, and the Reds labeled the rumors as being ‘pure lies’.
Arsenal, though, pressed ahead for a deal that must surely now rank as one of the worst in transfer history. For the same price as Pépé, Liverpool pretty much picked up Luis Díaz and Cody Gakpo — a few years later, in a more inflated market.
Now 28, Pépé has scored 27 times and assisted 21 for Arsenal — a reasonable amount in 112 appearances, even if more would have been expected considering the cost — but he has been frozen out by Arteta.
The Spaniard described a headbutt that saw Pépé get sent off in November 2020 as ‘unacceptable’ and the winger has barely been seen since. He spent last season on loan at Nice but didn’t really make a huge impression, scoring just six times.
Pépé still has a year left on his contract and Arsenal will not be seeing any more of a return on that staggering $90m deal. Instead, 90MIN reports that he will be heading to Beşiktaş for a ‘nominal fee’, on significantly reduced wages.
There was a reason that Liverpool never really got involved in any move for Pépé. Playing predominantly the same role that Mohamed Salah continues to excel in, it would not have made any logical sense.
Ultimately, it didn’t end up doing so for Arsenal either, with Liverpool being emphatically proved right on the decision not to get involved in the $90m Pépé chase.
