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Unai Emery wants Arsenal to sign Lille star Nicolas Pepe in £27m deal

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The Gunners are ready to spend after Danny Welbecks injury (Picture: Getty)

Arsenal are preparing a January move for Lille star Nicolas Pepe after deciding they need to reinforce their attack following Danny Welbecks injury, according to reports.

The forward is expected to miss the remainder of the season, when he will then be out contract, after dislocating and breaking his ankle against Sporting in the Europa League.

But the Gunners have wasted little time in looking at alternatives, and The Times report that Unai Emery has given the green light to Arsenals move for Pepe.

Pepe has been involved in 13 goals in as many matches this season (Picture: Getty)

The Ivory Coast international – who Emery knows all about from his time managing PSG in France – has already scored eight goals and laid on five assists in 13 Ligue 1 games this season.

Pepe would command a fee of around £27million, and Arsenal will face competition from north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur for his signature.

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Arsenal director of football Raul Sanllehi has already hinted that Arsenal will dip into the market, saying: If there is a very good opportunity we are definitely going to consider, we will see.

Danny Welbecks injury alters, in a way, the views. Its a good time to start analysing what options we have in the market. We are not closing the door but its still not the preferred one.

There is a fear that Welbeck may have played his last game for Arsenal (Picture: Getty)

I am not saying thats a green light to go to the market but we have good players in the house also that may get further opportunities, like Eddie Nketiah for example.

The Gunners are also sweating over the fitness of strikers Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang after the pair pulled out of their respective national teams, though they are expected to be available for the return of the Premier League.