According to the latest reports, Premier League giants Liverpool have opened talks with Ligue 1 side Lille to sign star forward Nicolas Pepe in the summer transfer window. The Reds are hoping to strike a deal for the Ivorian attacker if any of their main forwards leave the club or either to bolster their squad for the upcoming season.
Jurgen Klopp has been working his magic on Liverpool and the work that he has put in over the last three and a half years that he has been in charge of the Merseyside club is now being rewarded immensely. The red half of Merseyside witnessed their best ever campaign in the Premier League ever since the club was formed back in 1892 as they recorded 97 points last season. However, that was still not enough to win the title as Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City pipped Liverpool by just one solitary point. The season before, Manchester City broke plenty of records as they stormed their way to the title amassing a staggering 100 points in the process with no real competition, but Liverpool ensured that City felt some nerves and took last season’s title race down to the wire and the last day of the season.
It was not all doom and gloom for Liverpool as the finished runners up in the Premier League as Klopp’s side brought the Champions League trophy back to Anfield for the sixth time in the clubs illustrious history. Liverpool reached the final of the Champions League last season as well but suffered heartbreak against Real Madrid as they lost 3-1 in Kyiv. However, another incredible season in Europe was capped off with Liverpool winning the elite tournament as Liverpool beat Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 in the final.
The Anfield faithful believe that there are positive days in the near future and Klopp is now eager to dethrone Manchester City as Champions of England and end Guardiola’s dominance in the League. The German boss wants to end Liverpool’s 30 years wait for the Premier League title and has his sights set on winning the Premiership next term. In order to achieve that, Klopp will have to look into the transfer window to add some firepower to his attack.
Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino have a strong link-up and connection in the attacking third of the pitch but if one of the players from the trio is out injured or serving a suspension, Klopp may have to call upon another attacker to fill in the void.
Liverpool is keeping close tabs on Lille winger Nicolas Pepe as the 24-year-old forward enjoyed a stellar season with the Ligue 1 outfit. Pepe scored a tally of 22 goals and notched up 11 assists along with that, for Lille last season attracting interest from several top clubs in the European continent. North London side Arsenal and La Liga giants Atletico Madrid are also interested in Pepe’s services but the latest reports have stated the Liverpool have opened up talks with Lille to sign up the Ivorian winger this summer.