Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester United transfer target’s stats, position and goals

Nicolas Pepe is about to turn into one in all Europe’s most in demand footballers when the summer time switch window opens.

The 23-year-old has taken Ligue 1 by storm this season, netting 19 occasions and offering 11 assists in 32 video games to catch the attention of a number of prime golf equipment.

Liverpool are reportedly leading the chase for his signature, with Premier League rivals Arsenal, Manchester United and Everton additionally .

Lille look set to complete second within the French prime flight, thanks largely to the type of Pepe, and the membership are already resigned to the prospect of dropping him this summer time.

Membership president Gerard Lopez lately instructed Telefoot: “4 or 5 gamers might be leaving this summer time.

“All clubs are forced to balance their accounts except perhaps one. I would say yes, it is sure he [Pepe] will leave.

“He enters a price range that can no longer be paid. There is a career choice to make for him, I think he will have the choice.”

Here’s how the Ivory Coast international rose to such prominence.

Who’s Nicolas Pepe?

The French-born Ivorian began his profession within the decrease leagues of French soccer earlier than ultimately incomes a switch to Angers in 2013.

His skilled debut got here in November 2014 – a 1-1 draw in opposition to Ajaccio in Ligue 2. Pepe spent a yr within the B staff earlier than he was loaned out to fellow French aspect US Orleans to assist his growth.

When he returned to Angers, he turned a first-team common, making 33 Ligue 1 appearances within the 2016/17 marketing campaign.

His performances grabbed the eye of the Ivory Coast’s selectors, who gave him his first worldwide cap in November 2016, and Lille had been holding tabs on him, too.

Pepe signed a five-year take care of Lille in the summertime of 2017 for a reported £10m price.

Since then, he has gone from strength-to-strength, shortly establishing himself as some of the thrilling gamers in France.

Earlier this season, he bagged a hat-trick within the 3-2 Ligue 1 away win over Amiens SC.

Pepe was the star of the present as Lille thrashed Paris Saint-Germain 5-1 earlier this month, notching a objective and two assists in opposition to the French champions.

Solely PSG sensation Kylian Mbappe has extra objectives than him in Ligue 1 this season.

He’s a defender’s nightmare, along with his tempo, shut management and directness inflicting all of them kinds of issues.

“He amazes me, he amazes us,” his supervisor, Christoph Galtier stated in February.

“He’s sure to turn into a world class participant as a result of he is aware of learn how to do every thing. He doesn’t want an intermediate step. After the nice season he’s having with us, he can go straight to a Champions League membership.”