---
title: "Leeds United: Whites interested in Nicolas Pepe"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/leeds-nicolas-pepe-transfer-gossip/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Charlie Smith"
section: "Leeds United News"
published: "2022-07-15T18:35:53Z"
modified: "2022-07-15T18:35:53Z"
---

# Leeds United: Whites interested in Nicolas Pepe

**[Leeds United](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/leeds-united-news/) are thought to be interested in a move for Arsenal forward Nicolas Pepe.**

### The Lowdown: Pepe’s Premier League struggles

Pepe, labelled as [‘perfect’](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11670/11844394/arsenal-manager-unai-emery-praises-nicolas-pepes-perfect-free-kick-double) by Unai Emery, is Arsenal’s [record](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/fc-arsenal/transferrekorde/verein/11) signing after joining from Lille back in 2019 in a deal worth £72m.

However, the 27-year-old hasn’t lived up to the heights many expected at the Emirates, scoring just [27 times in 112 games](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/nicolas-pepe/leistungsdatentrainer/spieler/343052) to take his career goal tally for club and country to [83](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/nicolas-pepe/leistungsdatentrainer/spieler/343052).

The Ivory Coast international made just [five](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/nicolas-pepe/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/343052/plus/0?saison=2021&verein=&liga=&wettbewerb=&pos=&trainer_id=) Premier League starts last season under Mikel Arteta, and it looks as if he could be on the move with two years remaining on his Gunners contract.

### The Latest: Leeds links

According to [Spanish outlet Diario de Sevilla](https://www.diariodesevilla.es/sevillafc/Sevilla-vuelve-interesarse-Nicolas-Pepe-Arsenal_0_1701730713.html), Leeds are one of the sides interested in signing Pepe this summer along with Sevilla, Lyon and Marseille.

The Whites reportedly view Pepe as a replacement for Raphinha and will need to cough up a fee in excess of €25m to secure his services.

[![Latest Leeds United news!](https://cdn.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/cropped-2022-03-10T184055Z_1834933207_UP1EI3A1FW561_RTRMADP_3_SOCCER-ENGLAND-LEE-AVA-REPORT-1-scaled-1.jpg)](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-leeds-united-news-47/)

### The Verdict: Avoid?

Pepe is the latest attacking target to be linked with a move to Elland Road after [Charles De Ketelaere](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/leeds-united-news/de-ketelaere-leeds-transfer-latest-phil-hay-raphinha/), [Arnaud Kalimuendo](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/leeds-united-news/leeds-arnaud-kalimuendo-transfer-news-gossip/), [Ben Brereton Diaz](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/leeds-united-news/leeds-whites-ben-brereton-diaz-transfer-news/) and [Joaquin Correa](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/leeds-united-news/leeds-joaquin-correa-transfer-news/).

\[freshpress-poll id=”403088″\]

The Whites are very clearly after a [new forward](https://mobile.twitter.com/PhilHay_/status/1545145078271942657) ahead of Jesse Marsch’s first full season in charge, but a move for Pepe, who Ezgjan Alioski hilariously [trolled](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-9249793/Leeds-star-Ezgjan-Alioski-trolls-Nicolas-Pepe-prepare-meet-Emirates-Sunday.html) after his red card at Elland Road, may not be the best move.

He has struggled in England, is on [big money](https://www.spotrac.com/epl/arsenal-fc/nicolas-pepe-32697/) and is [primarily](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/nicolas-pepe/profil/spieler/343052) a winger, so Leeds could be better of pursing a player who is more naturally suited through the middle instead, rather than a man who struggled to make an impact or even control his temper [when he visited Yorkshire](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-9249793/Leeds-star-Ezgjan-Alioski-trolls-Nicolas-Pepe-prepare-meet-Emirates-Sunday.html).