Lille ace Nicolas Pepe has refused to comment on speculation that he could move away from the French side this season.
The 23-year-old has courted the attention of Arsenal and Liverpool following a sensational campaign with Lille, who look set to finish runners-up to Paris Saint-Germain in Ligue 1 and secure a Champions League spot.
Pepe’s performances have not gone unnoticed, with Bayern Munich among those also interested in his services, but Pepe has stated he will remain silent until the end of the season.
"We don’t talk about it, the season is not over yet. Once it is finished we will be able to talk about it, but now no,” he told BeIN Sports.
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Arsenal have identified Pepe as an ideal recruit ahead of Unai Emery’s second season in charge at the Emirates Stadium but his rising price-tag has reportedly seen the Gunners eye alternative options.
The Gunners were reportedly interested in signing him last summer, but Emery and then head of recruitment Sven Mislintat could not get a deal over the line.
Lille have two games to play before the end of their season and Pepe has plenty of time to add to his tally of 20 goals, which puts him as the league’s second top-scorer behind Paris Saint-Germain’s Kylian Mbappe.
It has been an incredible season for the Ivorian, who also has 11 assists to his name.
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