Football rumours from the media

Speculation about the future of *Nicolas Pepe* will grow after The Times reported the winger will meet with Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta on Wednesday. The out-of-favour player’s woes worsened when he was sent from the pitch for headbutting Leeds’ Ezgjan Alioski during Sunday’s goalless draw in the Premier League. His club boss publicly called the behaviour “unacceptable”, prompting an apology from the 25-year-old. But the subsequent meeting with the Gunners boss will only add to fears about the long-term prospects of the Ivory Coast international, who was signed from Lille in 2019 for a club-record £72million fee, on a five-year contract.