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• Pepe: Arsenal exit 'wasn't easy' as performances judged on £72m pricetag

  Nicolas Pepe admits it "wasn't easy" to come to terms with leaving Arsenal, believing many judged his performances in the Premier League on his £72million price tag. 

  Pepe, who joined Arsenal from Lille in 2019, completed a permanent switch to Turkish side Trabzonspor last year, leaving the Emirates on a free transfer. 

  The Ivorian's arrival in North London came with great expectations, having become the club's most expensive signing, surpassing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's £56m move from Borussia Dortmund.

  That has since been eclipsed by Declan Rice's £100m move from West Ham last year, but the England midfielder flourished in his first season with the Gunners.

  Pepe made 112 appearances for Arsenal, scoring 27 goals and adding 21 assists during his four-year stay in the Premier League. 

  "It wasn't easy at all. And the fans weren't happy with how I was performing," Pepe told BBC Sport about his struggles.

  "When I first joined, the fans weren't really judging my performances, they were judging the price tag. But I think I did some great things while at Arsenal.

  "I don't regret my time there. But my transfer fee to the club was the highest one they'd signed, so they expected me to score in each match."

  The Premier League has seen an influx of inflated fees in recent years, with an estimated £1.5billion spent on player transfers during the 2023-24 season. 

  Pepe was keen to stress the fees paid by Premier League clubs are nothing to do with the players.

  "If Arsenal bought me for £20m, maybe it'd be different," he said. "It's not the player's fault.

  "They don't ask for £100m or £90m. But that's how it is in the football world and it's something that people can't understand.

  "There are also players like [Mykhailo] Mudryk and Antony who don't perform at their best all the time, and yet they're not bad players."

  Mikel Arteta's side are currently in the United States for pre-season as they aim to halt Manchester City's reign as Premier League champions next season. 

  Arsenal finished second behind City last term, accumulating 89 points, their highest total since their last triumph in the competition during the 2003-04 campaign.

• Potter 'ready' for management return and salutes Southgate amid England links

  Graham Potter says he feels "really ready, really excited" to return to football management, but would not comment on speculation linking him with the vacant England job.

  The former Chelsea boss has not been out of work since leaving the Blues in April 2023 after just seven months in charge at Stamford Bridge.

  Potter began his professional management career with Swedish side Ostersund, who he guided from the fourth tier into the top flight and Europa League during his seven-year spell.

  The former defender then spent a season with Swansea City, before a successful three-year stint with Brighton and Hove Albion.

  Speaking at Leeds Beckett University, where he was receiving an honorary doctorate, Potter revealed his desire to get back in the dugout.

  "Now, I'm in that good place where I'm happy to be ready and looking forward to the next challenge," he told Sky Sports.

  "I've had a great break. The journey from where I started to where I finished doesn't come for free. It involves moving to three countries, with a young family, and all that comes with being a football manager.

  "It was important for me to take a break, reflect and re-energise. It's been a good time to look at other things, other sports, other teams and visit places.

  "I feel really ready, really excited to be back when the right opportunity comes."

  Potter is one of several names linked with replacing Gareth Southgate, who resigned as England's head coach following their Euro 2024 final heartbreak against Spain.

  While the 49-year-old refused to discuss the possibility of him taking over the reins, he paid tribute to the outgoing Three Lions boss, who led them to successive European Championship finals and a World Cup semi-final during his eight-year spell.

  "Today is not the day to speak about [the England vacancy]," he added. "I'm proud of the job Gareth Southgate did.

  "As an Englishman in football, I don't think there's anybody who has more respect than he has; how he conducted himself, him and his staff, qualifying for tournaments, going deep into tournaments, getting the country behind the team.

  "He's done an amazing job. I'd like to wish him well. I hope he has a nice break, and wish him well for whatever he decides to do next."

• Yalcouye becomes Hurzeler's fifth signing at Brighton

  Brighton have confirmed the signing of 18-year-old midfielder Malick Yalcouye from Swedish side IFK Goteborg. 

  Yalcouye joins the Seagulls on a five-year contract, arriving at the AMEX Stadium for a reported £6million fee. 

  The teenager, who holds dual nationality with Mali and Ivory Coast, joined Goteborg last year after making his debut in the African Champions League for ASEC Mimosas. 

  He made 11 appearances in the Swedish Allsvenskan, making his debut in February and scoring his first goal six games later against IF Brommapojkarna. 

  "He is a talented midfielder with lots of potential to develop into a top-class player," new head coach Fabian Hurzeler said on his latest signing. 

  "He's excited about this next stage of his career and we're looking forward to helping him progress."

  Yalcouye becomes Brighton's fifth summer signing as they look to improve on their 11th place finish in the Premier League last season. 

  The Seagulls have already confirmed the arrivals of Ibrahim Osman, Yankuba Minteh, Mats Wieffer and Amario Cozier-Duberry.