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Lille boss teases Arsenal fans by dropping a huge hint on Nicolas Pepe’s future

Sudarshan Venkatesan
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Nicolas Pepe to Arsenal?

Lille boss Christophe Galtier teases Arsenal fans by dropping a huge hint on Nicolas Pepe’s future. 

Unai Emery is planning for a squad overhaul in the summer transfer window and bring in players who would suit his philosophy. Mesut Ozil has been really struggling to establish himself as a starter after the departure of Arsene Wenger.

When the Spaniard signed for the club, the former Paris Saint-Germain manager was already keeping an eye on Lille forward Nicolas Pepe who was turning the heads of several scouts. He asked the board if they would be able to sign the Ivorian, but his price was not in touching distance for the Gunners. Hence they decided to back out of the deal during last summer.

Nicolas Pepe recently won the Ligue 1 player of the month for January and is having a scintillating season with the French outfit. The 23-year-old has scored 17 times and produced 11 assists from 28 games this campaign, making him one of the feared players in the French top division.

Blessed with breakneck pace and tenacity to beat defenders, the Ivorian would be wanted by a host of clubs in the forthcoming transfer market. It is also understood that Lille are ready to do business only if the buying side match their price tag which is 80 million euros.

Lille boss Christophe Galtier added more to the fuel when he was asked about Nicolas Pepe’s future in the pre-match press conference. The French International has said that the forward would be representing the side which wears red colour. After hearing that plenty of Arsenal fans have decided to wonder if he would be on his way to the Emirates.

“Nicolas Pépé is having a great season and he will continue to progress. He has to go to a club in the Champions’ League. In my view, he does not need an intermediary step to go to the highest possible level. I could seem him playing for a team who plays in red… that likes having wide players playing on the wing of their weaker foot.” said Galtier.

There is no doubt that Arsenal could struggle to meet Lille’s demands, but several reports claim that the Gunners are ready to do business if a suitable offer arrives for Alexandre Lacazette. He might pay the way for Nicolas Pepe at Arsenal in the summer window.

Apart from Arsenal, he has also been linked with the likes of Manchester United and Bayern Munich. By bringing the red colour outfit to the picture, these three teams including Lille are wearing the same colour.

It will be interesting to see where he would end up in the summer transfer window. There is no doubt that Lille would be looking for an auction as plenty of clubs line up a move for Nicolas Pepe for a summer transfer.

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