According to Gianluca Di Marzio, Arsenal are still well in the hunt for Nicolas Pepe despite his €80m price tag after it was revealed they are one of four clubs to have reached an ‘agreement in principle’ for the player.

On Friday, it was claimed that Arsenal were one of four clubs (along with Napoli, Liverpool and Inter Milan) to have an €80m bid accepted by Lille ‘in principle’ for the transfer of Nicolas Pepe.

Liverpool, Arsenal, Napoli & Inter Milan are the 4 clubs to have €80m proposals accepted by Lille for Nicolas Pépé – full story https://t.co/FyLwTQVhNb

— Get French Football News (@GFFN) July 26, 2019

Now, Gianluca Di Marzio write, “The Gunners, at the level of engagement (and commissions) would have given guarantees to the players’ agents, therefore at the moment more inclined to give priority to this track. Now therefore it will be to be seen whether Napoli will re-launch, thanks to the agreement reached with Lille for the class ’95 striker.”

On Thursday, before this story, Pepe’s agent arrived in Dimaro to negotiate the transfer of the player to Napoli

Di Marzio posted the picture above on their website on Thursday, showing Pepe’s agent Sam Khiat, and ‘two of his collaborators,’ landing in Dimaro by helicopter.

The agent is reportedly asking for €5m in commission for his role in any deal while he wants the same for his client in wages.

Throughout this story it has been the French media pushing the line that Arsenal are trying to sign Pepe.

The BBC’s David Ornstein, Goal’s Charles Watts and Football.London’s James Benge have all denied the story.

Quite where Arsenal are expected to have pulled €80m from to do any of this is anyone’s guess.

Suggestions on a postcard…