Nicolas Pépé spent two seasons at Lille before joining Arsenal in 2019 and in his last term in France, the forward managed 23 goals and 12 assists in 41 matches in all competitions.
The 26-year-old has failed to replicate his impressive Lille form at the north London club and has 26 goals and 20 assists from 102 matches since the start of 2019/20 season.
Last campaign, the winger managed 16 goals and five assists, but he’s failed to replicate that form this season.
Despite shining in the EFL Cup, the Ivory Coast international failed to find the back of the net in the league and managed only one assist from nine matches.
Pépé’s struggles with Mikel Arteta’s side, however, didn’t put off French clubs, especially Lyon and Marseille. 
Today’s edition of L’Equipe explains these two sides had the same idea in the winter market, which was to bring the player back to Ligue 1.
Both Lyon and Marseille studied the track, but the ‘door remained closed’ for the transfer of the Arsenal player.
It’s claimed the situation could be different in the summer, unless there is a ‘turnaround’ in Pépé’s ‘sporting situation’ at Arsenal in the second half of the season.
