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Nicolas Pepe clutches Arsenal shopping bag after completing medical ahead of stunning club record £72m transfer
NICOLAS PEPE has been pictured leaving Arsenal's training ground having completed his medical with the North Londoners.
The Ivorian winger, 24, met Gunners' officials at their multi-million pound Colney complex as he edges closer to becoming the club's all time record signing.
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Pepe will cost Arsenal £72million - eclipsing their previous record £56m they paid for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in January 2018.
And after SunSport's exclusive pictures showed him the leaving the training ground, the attacking threat headed to North London to explore his new hometown armed with an Arsenal branded bag.
HUGE FINANCIAL COUP
And the bag appeared to be full of Gunners merchandise.
The Ivory Coast international arrived in London for his medical this morning and this latest development suggests a confirmation announcement is imminent.
Arsenal have pulled off a huge financial coup having convinced Lille to accept just £20m of the transfer fee upfront and the remaining £52m in instalments over the next five years.
This means the North Londoners are paying just 28 per cent of the eye-watering fee upfront.
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TRANSFER WAR CHEST
Reports earlier in the summer suggested the Gunners had just £45m to spend in this transfer window.
But they have already splashed the cash on £27m man William Saliba from Saint Etienne, £6m on Brazilian Gabriel Martinelli and a whopping £15m to bring Dani Ceballos in from Real Madrid on loan.
And Arsenal are still in the running to sign Celtic's Kieran Tierney for around £25m.
Life was not kind to Pepe as a child but the poverty-stricken youngster born to migrants in northern France knew he was going to be a pro aged six.
His mum was a housekeeper while father Celestin became a prison guard in order to make ends meet.
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But as he edges closer to the biggest move of his career, decked out in a stylish blue suit and expensive looking sunglasses he could be seen peering inside his new bag to check out his welcome gifts.
Though he didn't seem too impressed and his demeanour remained cool as he made his way around the car.
The former Lille man completed the suave look with bright white trainers and a casual light t-shirt.
OFFICIAL WELCOME
And he was accompanied by his entourage and was welcomed by Arsenal officials upon arrival.
And Unai Emery hopes he can form a potent attacking partnership with £60m signing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette.
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After news of his potential arrival broke, Gunners' fans on social media were delighted at the ambitious move.
The 24-year-old's arrival likely signals the end of Wilfried Zaha's chances of an Emirates switch - especially after Crystal Palace claimed he was not for sale.
Everton now appear to be favourites for the Ivorian, but saw a £55m bid rejected by the Eagles.
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