According to the latest reports, Premier League giants Arsenal have received a massive boost in their pursuit of signing Lille star attacker Nicolas Pepe in the upcoming summer transfer window. The report claims that Pepe is bound to leave the French outfit and there are plenty of top European clubs interested in signing the young sensation after Lille president Gerard Lopez confirmed that Pepe will leave the club.
Ever since Unai Emery took charge of the Arsenal football club back in the summer of 2018, he has done quite a decent job by replacing legendary manager Arsene Wenger at the club. The 69-year-old was in charge of Arsenal for 22 long years and won three Premier League titles and seven FA Cups in the process. But towards the final few seasons of Wenger’s reign, even the loyal Arsenal fans were tired of his stale football and they wanted a change. Emery’s arrival has certainly breathed fresh air into the club and he has implemented his philosophy as well into the players.
The Spaniard has decided on the players he will not require in the future and even got rid of midfielder Jack Wilshere last summer. Welshman Aaron Ramsey will also be leaving the Emirates Stadium to join Serie A club Juventus. The 28-year old’s departure will leave a void for Arsenal and the Gunners will have to look for a replacement in the summer. But Emery also wants a top quality winger who can add more width to his team’s attack.
One player that Emery is targeting to stretch his team’s attack this summer transfer window is Lille forward Nicolas Pepe. The 23-year-old has been in sublime form for Lille this season, scoring 18 times and notching up 11 assists as well in 31 Ligue 1 appearances. The North London giants have been linked with a move for Pepe and will be glad to know that he is definitely leaving the club. Lille’s club president Gerard Lopez spoke to news outlet Telefoot earlier this week and confirmed that their prized asset will leave if the price is right, “It is certain he will leave. He is in a price range that we cannot ignore anymore. There is a career choice for him to make, I think he’ll have the choice to leave,”
The Ivorian international is fast and tricky and he showed last night that he could be brutal against top teams when Lille hammered Paris Saint Germain 5-1 to prolong their wait for the title. Lille should finish in 2nd place on the French table but will bulge if a big offer comes in the summer.
Liverpool are willing to out-bid the Arsenal for Nicolas Pépé [L'Equipe] pic.twitter.com/7avEBDeho9
— AFTV (@AFTVMedia) April 17, 2019
Along with Arsenal, German giants Bayern Munich are also looking to sign Nicolas Pepe as they want to bolster their squad for next season. At present, the main issue with Arsenal signing Pepe is the fact that he will not come at a cheap price.
Lille are currently valuing Pepe at a price of around £68m and with a limited budget, Unai Emery may decide to go against signing the star forward.
