Barcelona are interested in reported Arsenal transfer target Nicolas Pepe, Lille owner Gerard Lopez has confirmed.
The Gunners were extremely active in the summer transfer market as head coach Unai Emery kicked off the post-Arsene Wenger era with as many as five new additions.
First to arrive was Stephan Lichtsteiner on a free from Serie A champions Juventus, before Berno Leno completed his move from Bayer Leverkusen and was soon joined by Greek defender Sokratis Papastathopoulos from Borussia Dortmund.
Two more would follow as Emery bolstered his midfield options by signing Lucas Torreira and Matteo Guendouzi from Sampdoria and Lorient respectively.
Yet the majority of supporters wanted to see a winger signed before the transfer window closed on August 9.
Whilst the likes of Ousmane Dembele, Lucas Vazquez and Kingsley Coman were all linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium not a single one managed to materialise and it’s the one department in which the north London outfit are lacking.
Nicolas Pepe (Image: PHILIPPE HUGUEN / AFP)
But could Emery and head of recruitment Sven Mislintat be about to change that when the transfer window reopens in the new year?
It was reported last month by L’Equipe – via the Daily Mirror – that the Gunners alongside Lyon, Sevilla and Real Betis are tracking Pepe who earned rave reviews last season for the Ligue 1 outfit as he netted 13 times in 36 games.
Add the reigning champions of Spain to the list following confirmation from the French club’s owner.
“It’s true. Several big clubs are interested in him,” Gerard Lopez said, via RMC Sport .
“Some clubs have contacted us directly after the transfer window to know what the state of play is.”
Pepe signed a five-year-deal with Lille in June 2017 and it’s understood that the club have already turned down and offer of €35m for his services, but Gerard Lopez admits that a number of players may have to leave in January due to the club’s precarious finances.
“I want him to stay until the end of the season as a minimum,” he added. “We’ll certainly sell (players in January). We’re starting to have players who are not happy with their game time.
“If we can, we’re going to sell players who have good qualities but less game time. We’ve got five centre-backs, for example.”
Pepe has started this season in impressive fashion too, scoring four goals and weighing in with the same number of assists in seven Ligue 1 appearances – prior to last night’s clash against Marseille.
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