It’s been a while since we’ve had to cover anything regarding Manchester United’s interest in Lille’s Nicolas Pépé, but Le Parisien bring it back to the fore on Wednesday.
The French newspaper look at how the Ligue 1 side will prepare for next season’s Champions League campaign, and a few departures are expected, including the Ivorian’s.
Scoring 20 goals and assisting 11 times in 36 league appearances, the 23-year-old surpassed all expectations this season, and Lille know they will have to cash in while they can.
Le Parisien report ’many Premier League clubs’, adding ‘especially Manchester United’, as well as Paris Saint-Germain, are interested in Pépé, for whom Lille are hoping to receive a fee between €50-70m.
Past claims suggest Arsenal, Liverpool and even Chelsea could all be part of the list of English suitors, but the French newspaper make a clear point the Red Devils appear the keenest.
Lille’s plan this summer is to sell for ‘at least €100m’, which means other players such as Adama Soumaoro and Thiago Mendes could all be shipped off elsewhere over the coming months.
As for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, he will be more than aware that a player like the Ivory Coast international could be the (or part of the) key to climbing back into the top four next season, considering their dire need for a right-winger.
