It’s not quite a summer saga, but reports of Liverpool’s interest in Nicolas Pepe just won’t go away.
The Ivory Coast winger has been linked with a move to Anfield all summer, with Lille said to be demanding a fee of around €80m for his signature.
The ECHO understands that the Reds have made no attempt to sign the forward, nor do they plan to, this window.
Liverpool’s sporting director, Michael Edwards, has also reiterated the club’s stance on Pepe, despite reports in France suggesting otherwise.
But such is the nature of the summer rumour mill, speculation elsewhere has shown no sign of coming to an end.
In the latest apparent twist in the tale, Lille president Gerard Lopez claimed that Pepe's camp already have a favoured destination in mind as he confirmed 'offers' have come in.
A host of European powerhouses such as Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, Inter Milan and Atletico Madrid are said to be circling for a swoop.
Lopez told French sports daily L’Equipe: “We know what the offers are.
“I also wanted to close the transfer before the Africa Cup of Nations. At the request of his entourage, we waited a little and Nico told us that he wants to focus on the tournament.
“He also wants to talk to the coaches but I am not worried. We will look at the facts.”
The Lille president went on to confirm that the player’s representatives have a clear preference on where they want Pepe to play his football next season - but did not reveal any specifics.
Lopez said: “His entourage have a favourite destination and that in itself is not a problem.
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“The discussions are with prestigious clubs where he will be happy but everyone has the right to have a preference.”
Whilst Liverpool could be searching for striking cover following the departure of Daniel Sturridge, Jurgen Klopp is pretty well stocked with options in the wide areas.
With Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, Xherdan Shaqiri and others vying for starting spots, it’s perhaps tough to see where the Ivorian would fit in.
