Besiktas have a genuine interest in Nicolas Pepe, with the winger set to negotiate a contract termination with Arsenal.

Nice's Ivorian forward Nicolas Pepe controls the ball during the UEFA Europa Conference League Quater Final football match between Nice (OGCN) and FC Basel at the Allianz Riviera in Nice, on April 20, 2023. (Photo by Valery HACHE / AFP) (Photo by VALERY HACHE/AFP via Getty Images)
Nice’s Ivorian forward Nicolas Pepe controls the ball during the UEFA Europa Conference League Quarter Final football match between Nice (OGCN) and FC Basel at the Allianz Riviera in Nice, on April 20, 2023. (Photo by VALERY HACHE/AFP via Getty Images)

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

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

According to FootMercato, that deal could well be a contract termination and a free transfer.

The French outlet claim Arsenal are set to hold talks with Pepe’s camp over terminating his contract, which ends in 2024.

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Nice's Ivorian forward Nicolas Pepe (R) celebrates with Nice's French defender Melvin Bard after scoring his team's third goal during the French L1 football match between OGC Nice and Montpellier Herault SC at the Allianz Riviera Stadium in Nice, south-eastern France, on January 11, 2023. - (Photo by VALERY HACHE/AFP via Getty Images)
Nice’s Ivorian forward Nicolas Pepe (R) celebrates with Nice’s French defender Melvin Bard after scoring his team’s third goal during the French L1 football match between OGC Nice and Montpellier Herault SC at the Allianz Riviera Stadium in Nice, south-eastern France, on January 11, 2023. (Photo by VALERY HACHE/AFP via Getty Images)

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.

Nice's Ivorian forward Nicolas Pepe (L) fights for the ball with Brest's French defender Brendan Chardonnet during the French L1 football match between OGC Nice and Brest at the Allianz Riviera Stadium in Nice, south-eastern France, on November 6, 2022. (Photo by VALERY HACHE/AFP via Getty Images)
Nice’s Ivorian forward Nicolas Pepe (L) fights for the ball with Brest’s French defender Brendan Chardonnet during the French L1 football match between OGC Nice and Brest at the Allianz Riviera Stadium in Nice, south-eastern France, on November 6, 2022. (Photo by VALERY HACHE/AFP via Getty Images)

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.

It’s looking like Arsenal can either terminate Pepe’s deal and let him go to Besiktas or let him go for free next summer after another year of wages.

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