Manchester United's transfer position over Nicolas Pepe as Arsenal gets closer to his contract with the club

Arsenal is close to the signing of Nicolas Pepe (Lille), club record.

The Gunners would have worked with an extremely tight summer budget, having failed to qualify for the Champions League for a third consecutive season.

However, according to the BBC, Arsenal would have agreed to pay a fee to Lille, which would be happy to receive payment in several structured installments.

Arsenal reportedly recruited super agent Jorge Mendes to help him negotiate an agreement. The transfer will be made as soon as the agreement with the representatives of Pepe has been concluded.

Napoli appeared as Arsenal's most serious rival for 24-year-old services, but was beaten backwards, as was the case last summer when Lucas Torreira and Bernd Leno chose North London for a move to the south of Italy.

Manchester United have also monitored Pepe's situation, but the BBC says Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has never been interested in this versatile striker.

Although the Norwegian still wants to strengthen his attack before the start of the season, Solskjaer is more focused on finding a replacement for Romelu Lukaku than on strengthening his team with the addition of a other winger.

Daniel James, who arrived in Swansea with £ 15 million earlier this summer, positively impressed United's preparation tour in Australia and Asia. Solskajer was particularly encouraged by the bravery of the tiny winger against hostile treatment.

"Dan is so fast and it's not easy to time against him," said United manager.

'I can understand why the players are doing badly against him. He is a good little boy and he jumps, he took a few shots for the tour, but as an old man, I like to see tackles.

"There is no roll, dive or feint. If he stays on the ground, he is injured but he gets up when he just suffered. & # 39;