Besiktas have offered Nicolas Pepe a three-year contract, but Arsenal are yet to decide on the manner of his departure.

Fabrice Hawkins of RMC Sport reports that Besiktas have made a three-year contract offer to Nicolas Pepe, which the winger is now reflecting on.

Pepe has a year left on his Arsenal deal, and the Gunners reportedly now need to decide whether they’re willing to let him leave for free or not.

According to Hawkins, that decision could affect the possibility of a transfer to Besiktas. Presumably, the journalist is suggesting the Turkish side are much more likely to do the deal if they can pick Pepe up for free.

Fabrizio Romano previously reported that Besiktas have a genuine interest in Pepe, who is out of Mikel Arteta’s plans at Arsenal and prepared to leave the club.

Romano added that negotiations would soon take place to sort out the structure of a potential deal.

Arsenal reportedly want to put the whole situation behind them, and Besiktas want to sign Pepe on a free transfer, so a contract termination may be the only way to make the move a reality.

Earlier in the summer, there had been some hope that Pepe might bring in a nominal fee, with a mid-table Saudi Arabian club expressing interest in him.

But after that move collapsed, it became increasingly likely Pepe would end up leaving for free.

Pepe spent the 2022/23 campaign out on loan with OGC Nice, but an underwhelming and injury-hit campaign didn’t generate the kind of interest Arsenal would have hoped for.

With only one year left on his contract in north London, another loan wouldn’t help the situation.

Unless they can convince Besiktas to pay up, it’s looking like Arsenal can either terminate Pepe’s deal and let him go now or let him go for free next summer after another year of wages.