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26

2019 Celtic Handed Tough Qualifying Path After Arsenal Sign Nicolas Pepe
Being Drawn Against Slavia Prague
7th, Celtic have been
August handed one of the For Club Record Fee
toughest paths possi-

| ble if they are to rsenal have complet-
secure their return to
ed the signing of
EXAMINER League group stages. ANicolas Pepe from
the
Champions
Lille for a club-record fee.
If Neil Lennon’s
Ivory
24-year-old
The
men beat CFR Cluj
IRISH over two legs in the Coast international has
signed a deal at the Emirates
third qualifying round, they will face Czech champions Slavia
Stadium for an undisclosed
Prague next.
The potential clash with last year’s Europa League quarter- fee, believed to be worth
finalists was one they will have wanted to avoid at Monday’s £72m (€79m).
draw in Nyon. Pepe’s move eclipses the
Slavia pushed Chelsea close in two games last year, losing £55m (€60m) spent on Pierre-
1-0 at home before a 4-3 defeat at Stamford Bridge saw them Emerick Aubameyang in
bow out 5-3 on aggregate. January 2018 as the Gunners
For the time being Celtic’s minds are firmly focused on add another attacking option
Cluj, who they face in the first leg in Romania on Wednesday. to their ranks. he’s joining. with Arsenal Media: “Being
If Celtic overcome Cluj, they will be at least guarantee a Arsenal confirmed the “He will add pace, power here is very emotional
place in the Europa League group stages should they be paperwork for the move, and creativity, with the aim because it has not been easy
defeated by Slavia. which is “subject to the com- of bringing more goals to our for me.
If last year’s semi-finalists Ajax overcome PAOK Salonika, pletion of regulatory process- team.” “I have come a long way
they will face either Apoel of Cyprus or Qarabag of es” had been finalized on Pepe scored 22 Ligue 1 and struggled a lot and so
Azerbaijan. C Thursday, and Pepe would goals last season and was signing for this great club is a
wear the number 19 shirt. linked with a host of clubs big reward.”
Derby Confirm Wayne Rooney Gunners head coach Unai over the summer including Asked how he would
As Player-Coach From January Emery said: “Nicolas is a Manchester United and describe his playing style, the
Derby have con- highly-rated and talented Napoli. Ivory Coast international
firmed former winger who was wanted by Arsenal emerged late last said: Fast. Quick to connect
England captain many of the top teams in week as the somewhat sur- with the ball and a good fin-
Wayne Rooney will Europe. prising front-runners and isher as well. That is also an
be joining them in “Signing a top-class winger have completed the deal area where I have made
January. has been one of our key which will include paying for progress.
The forward has objectives in this transfer the player in installments. “I would say that I am
agreed an initial 18- window and I’m delighted Pepe said in an interview quick and a dribbler.” C
month contract to
move from Major League Soccer side DC United. Harry Maguire Completes
Rooney will also take on a coaching role with the
Championship club, with a view to going into management. Manchester United Move
He scored a record 53 goals in 120 international appear-
ances, while also getting 253 goals for Manchester United. C
anchester United have Manchester United come more acute when Eric Bailly
Harry Arter Joins Fulham On Season-Long Loan completed the signing of knocking on your door, it is an suffered a knee injury during
Republic of Ireland midfielder MEngland defender Harry incredible opportunity. their pre-season tour of China
”From my conversations
Harry Arter has joined MaguirefromLeicesterfor £80mil- with the manager, I am excited which is expected to keep him
lion, a world record fee for a
out for at least four months.
Championship side Fulham on loan defender. about the vision and plans he The deal represents a tidy
for the season. The 26-year-old has signed a has for the team. It’s clear to see profit for Leicester, who signed
The 29-year-old – Fulham boss six-year contract at Old Trafford that Ole is building a team to Maguire for an initial £12million
Scott Parker’s brother-in-law – will with the option of a further year win trophies. I am now looking – potentially rising to £17mil-
spend the 2019-20 season at Craven after passing a medical and forward to meeting my new lion with add-ons – from Hull in
Cottage, with an option to make agreeing personal terms. team-mates and getting the sea- the summer of 2017.
the move from Bournemouth per- Maguire was strongly linked son started.” The Foxes were in a strong
manent next summer. with both Manchester clubs United had made strengthen- negotiating position after the
Arter joined Bournemouth from Woking in 2010 and has over the summer but Leicester ing the center of their defense a Sheffield-born player signed a
made 255 appearances for the club, scoring 29 goals. He spent held out for their valuation and priority at the start of the sum- new five-year deal in
last season on loan at Cardiff City. the fee surpasses the £75million mer, with the need becoming September. C
He said: “I’m delighted to be here. Fulham is a fantastic club Liverpool paid Southampton
with a lot of ambition who want to get back to the Premier for Virgil Van Dijk in January
League, and I hope I can help them achieve that this season.” 2018.
Fulham owner Tony Khan sang Arter’s praises, saying: Maguire told his new club’s
“Harry Arter’s arrival at Fulham Football Club will strengthen official website: “I am delighted
our midfield and gives us another experienced and proven to have signed for this great
player who’s contributed to his former club’s promotion from club. I have thoroughly enjoyed
my time at Leicester and would
the Championship. like to thank everyone at the
“Harry’s a great fit for our squad, and we believe he’ll help club, and the fans, for their fan-
us achieve our main objective, a return to the Premier League. tastic support over the past two
Come on Fulham!” C
seasons. However, when