{"id":1089874,"date":"2019-05-20T16:45:25","date_gmt":"2019-05-20T15:45:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/?p=1089874"},"modified":"2021-09-14T16:35:04","modified_gmt":"2021-09-14T15:35:04","slug":"lille-manager-confirms-nicolas-pepe-exit","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/news\/lille-manager-confirms-nicolas-pepe-exit\/","title":{"rendered":"“There will be a battle between the great European teams” – Lille confirm Pepe’s future"},"content":{"rendered":"

Lille manager Christophe Galtier has announced highly-coveted winger Nicolas Pepe will join one of Europe’s elite clubs this summer. \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Pepe, 23, has proven a revelation in Ligue 1 this term, scoring 22 goals and recording 11 assists as\u00a0Les Dogues placed second in the French top-flight.<\/p>\n

Could Pepe leave Lille? Five key things to know…<\/strong><\/h2>\n
    \n
  1. The in-demand Ivorian has impressed with his exploits at the\u00a0Stade Pierre-Mauroy in 2018\/19, sparking interest from around the continent.<\/li>\n
  2. Last month Lille chairman\u00a0Gerard Lopez\u00a0resigned himself to losing his prize asset<\/a> this summer.<\/li>\n
  3. Among the names being bandied about are Arsenal, with club legend Robert Pires urging the Gunners in April<\/a> to\u00a0pull out all the stops to sign him.<\/li>\n
  4. Pepe has also seen his name associated with a string of European powerhouses, including Manchester United, PSG and Liverpool.<\/li>\n
  5. His next destination may be unclear but his future at Lille is certainly over after manager Galtier confirmed his exit.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    https:\/\/audioboom.com\/posts\/7259525-if-guardiola-s-to-be-believed-liverpool-lost-the-league-with-one-result<\/p>\n

    The Ivorian winger was instrumental last campaign as his 13-goal haul helped keep Lille afloat in Ligue 1, while this season he has taken his game to much loftier heights, placing in the\u00a0Team of the Year as a result.<\/p>\n

    His signature will likely cost a fee in the region of \u00a369m, but that should not detract potential suitors, with a number of Europe’s top clubs set for a summer of spending, prompting a\u00a0not-so-orderly queue to form for his services, according to Galtier.<\/p>\n

    In an interview with Canal+, as reported by the Express<\/a>, Galtier said: “Nicolas Pepe will leave.\u00a0Life’s like that, football’s like that today.<\/p>\n

    “He is a player of the highest level who will have a big decision to make on the choice of his next club.<\/p>\n

    “There will be a battle between the great European teams.<\/p>\n

    “I hope that he will take good amount of time to think about it, do his research.”<\/p>\n