Arsenal have made enquiries about Porto winger Pepe, according to reports in the Portuguese media.

The Record newspaper claims that the Gunners have made “exploratory contacts” to ascertain the conditions for signing the 28-year-old.

Pepe has been linked on and off with a move to the Emirates over the past three years, but he has two years left on his contract, and he has just come off a season where he hasn’t performed at his best.

That would suggest that Mikel Arteta’s side should be looking elsewhere to strengthen their forward line, but due to his circumstances, the club may feel they can get him on the cheap.

Arsenal would be getting a Swiss Army knife

The Brazilian international can be deployed in multiple positions. During his career, he has played as a left winger, right winger, left wingback, right wingback, striker, No.10 and even at right-back.

Pepe’s versatility means he can provide cover in nearly every area of the pitch. His best role is cutting in from the left flank onto his stronger right foot, but Arteta would be confident in using him in many other roles too.

Pepe would be cheaper to sign than Madueke

The Gunners have been weighing up a move for Chelsea’s Noni Madueke in recent days but reports suggest that the 23-year-old would cost at least £50m.

Considering Madueke would not be playing every week, it is a sizeable sum to spend when the club could use the money to bring in the likes of Benjamin Sesko and Eberechi Eze.

Record claim that, while Porto are not open to a “free loan”, it seems there is an openness to letting Pepe go for a low fee. We shall see how this transfer story develops.

In other news, Fabrizio Romano provides an update on Viktor Gyokeres’s situation