Arsenal are reportedly now giving serious consideration to a contract termination for former record signing Nicolas Pepe.
The Ivorian attacker's £72m switch from Lille to North London in 2019 has not worked out for either party, and he has no future at the club under Mikel Arteta.
Pepe is now back at the Emirates following a loan spell with Ligue 1 side Nice last season, during which contributed eight goals from 28 matches during an injury-hit campaign.
With his Arsenal career seemingly unable to be revived - the 28-year-old has not made a matchday squad in the 2023-24 season so far - a move away was expected to materialise this summer.
The English transfer window closed at 11pm on Friday with Pepe still on the books, although the attacker could potentially still secure a move to Turkey or Saudi Arabia later this month.
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Besiktas are alleged to have been interested in a deal for Pepe, and clubs in the Turkish Super Lig have until September 15 to sign new players, while the Saudi Pro League window closes next Thursday.
In addition, teams from Russia, Belgium and Greece are still able to bring in new faces for a short while, but Arsenal are yet to receive any firm offers for their unwanted attacker.
As a result, the Daily Mail claims that Arsenal are considering cutting their losses and ripping up Pepe's contract, and Arteta is determined to get the Ivory Coast international out of the club.
Pepe has been training away from the main crop of players since returning to Arsenal's London Colney training base, although it is still unclear if there is any serious interest in his services.
The winger has amassed 27 goals and 21 assists in 112 matches for the Gunners over the past four years, but he will be free to leave for nothing in 2024 should he run down the final year of his contract.
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Arsenal paid a club-record £72m to bring Pepe to the Emirates in 2019, and the 28-year-old remained the Gunners' most expensive signing until July of this year, when he was dethroned by £105m man Declan Rice.
While Arsenal were unable to shift Pepe on deadline day, the Gunners did manage to cut a trio of unwanted players from the ranks, including Rob Holding, who has signed for Crystal Palace on a permanent deal.
Meanwhile, left-back Nuno Tavares has joined Nottingham Forest on loan with an option to buy for £12m, while Luton Town have taken Albert Sambi Lokonga on a straight loan deal.
Folarin Balogun, Matt Turner, Granit Xhaka, Pablo Mari, Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Auston Trusty also ended their associations with the club, while Kieran Tierney, Marquinhos, Alex Runarsson and Arthur Okonkwo secured loan exits.
Arsenal will endeavour to maintain their unbeaten start to the 2023-24 Premier League season when they host Manchester United at the Emirates on Sunday afternoon.
Ben Knapton
