Liverpool have an €80 million bid accepted for Lille’s Nicolas Pepe.
Liverpool have at last reached an €80 million agreement for Lille attacker Nicolas Pepe. The Ivorian, who is currently on holidays, has a huge task in his hands after the club has struck a deal with four different clubs.
According to L’Equipe, the French club have agreed transfer fee from Liverpool, Arsenal, Inter Milan, and Napoli. Earlier this month, Lille’s president confirmed Jurgen Klopp’s interest in the attacker and ever since then, the links of Pepe joining Liverpool hasn’t stopped.
Lille’s club president Gérard Lopez told the French newspaper the following:
“I defined the asking price that Lille wanted. Several clubs have met that. It is clear that we have affinities with certain clubs. But we will take into account the footballing project that Nicolas has in mind. It is a big decision. It is in his interest to rapidly take his decision to not miss any more pre-season and to get himself a place in his new team.”
The €80 million price is exclusion of the bonuses. Aside from these four clubs, Atletico Madrid and Manchester United have been in concrete touch with the Ligue 1 runners-up. But, the duo is not rumoured to have made an offer for the attacker yet.
Meanwhile, Lille boss Christophe Galtier has spoken with the player, who has asked for extra time to think about his future. The Italian sides have time to wrap up the deal, but Jurgen Klopp will be coy on signing him before the transfer window shuts on August 7th.
One thing is for sure, Nicolas Pepe will not be the first choice at Liverpool, but possesses a chance to start more than 30 games as the Reds take part in seven competitions this season.
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What’s next?
The signing of Nicolas Pepe will ease numerous problems in the frontline, but it remains to be seen.
