Liverpool have reportedly made contact with Lille over Ivorian wide man Nicolas Pepe in an attempt to pip their Premier League rivals to his signature.
The 23-year-old Frenchman was a target for Barcelona at the start of the season and a number of English clubs are now said to have shown an interest.
As well as impressing Jurgen Klopp , his impressive campaign has caught the eye of Chelsea , Arsenal and Tottenham.
Since his move to Lille in 2017, Pepe has scored 34 goals in 73 games, and his form this season has taken Les Dogues to the verge of Champions League qualification after a 17th placed finish last term.
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Profile
Name: Nicolas Pepe
Date of Birth: 29th May 1995
Birthplace: Mantes-la-Jolie, France
Height: 6ft0
International Debut: France v Ivory Coast, 15th November 2016
What sort of player is he?
Despite primarily playing out wide, Pepe’s lethal nature in front of goal sees him second in the Ligue 1 goal scoring charts, behind PSG's Kylian Mbappe.
He has 20 goals in all competitions, and has drawn comparisons with Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah for his tendency to cut in from the right onto his favoured left foot.
As well as a deadly eye for goal, Pepe has also impressed creatively this season.
The Ivory Coast winger has a joint highest 11 assists in Ligue 1, and 14 in all competitions.
At six feet tall, Pepe combines pace with power, and an ability to hold off defenders and burst into the box at speed.
His man of the match performance in Lille’s 5-1 demolition of PSG just over a week ago saw Pepe grab one goal and two assists, as well as force Juan Bernat into a red card.
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How much will he cost?
It is believed that Chelsea are ready to spend £70million on Pepe, potentially as a direct replacement for Eden Hazard should the Belgian move to Real Madrid .
Lille’s probable Champions League qualification may further inflate the Ivorian’s price tag.
A £70million fee would make Pepe Chelsea or Liverpool’s second most expensive signing, behind Kepa Arrizabalaga and Virgil van Dijk respectively.
Has he played at international level?
Yes, Nicolas Pepe, then playing for Angers, made his Ivory Coast debut against France on November 15, 2016.
The winger was born to parents of Ivorian descent in Mantes-la-Jolie, around 30 miles west of Paris, France.
Pepe now has four international goals and was in the Elephants’ squad for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations.
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What does his agent say?
Nicolas Pepe’s agent, Samir Khiat, told RTL that his player is in talks with multiple clubs in multiple leagues over a move, but a decision on his future is yet to be made.
