Lille OSC

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Jeremie Boga: Nicolas Pepe 'Will Definitely' Join Top Club Amid Arsenal Rumours

Apr 1, 2019
LILLE, FRANCE - MARCH 15: Lille's Nicolas Pepe during the French Ligue 1 match between Lille OSC (LOSC) and AS Monaco (ASM) at Stade Pierre Mauroy on March 15, 2019 in Lille, France. (Photo by Sylvain Lefevre/Getty Images)
LILLE, FRANCE - MARCH 15: Lille's Nicolas Pepe during the French Ligue 1 match between Lille OSC (LOSC) and AS Monaco (ASM) at Stade Pierre Mauroy on March 15, 2019 in Lille, France. (Photo by Sylvain Lefevre/Getty Images)

Ivory Coast midfielder Jeremie Boga is confident his international team-mate Nicolas Pepe will leave Lille this summer for a "top club." 

Boga's comments come amid rumours linking Pepe with Arsenal and Bayern Munich. The Sassuolo player spoke to Goal's Nizaar Kinsella about Pepe:

"Of course, with the season that he has had this year then I think next year that he will definitely go to a top club.

"He needs to make sure he makes the right decision on which one, but I am sure that next year he will be an attacker for a top, top club.

"I know him very well. He is a very good guy. He is technical, fast and clinical. You can see this year that he has been scoring a lot of goals and having a fantastic season. I am really happy for him."

Pepe has enjoyed a fine campaign, bagging 18 goals and nine assists in 30 Ligue 1 matches from the right wing.

The 23-year-old is among the most creative players in France's top flight, per Get French Football News:

On Sunday, he played a key role for Lille as they came from two goals down to beat Nantes 3-2.

After Rafael Leao had pulled one back for the visitors, Pepe dispatched a spot-kick to equalise. A minute later, he harried Nicolas Pallois out of possession by the right touchline before teeing up Jonathan Bamba for the winner.

Football statistician Dave O'Brien looked at his numbers:

Lille president Gerard Lopez isn't entertaining any speculation regarding the winger's future at this stage, though:

Aside from the versatile Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Arsenal have lacked attacking options on the right flank since Theo Walcott left for Everton last year.

As for Bayern, 35-year-old Arjen Robben will leave this summer, while Franck Ribery—who turns 36 on Sunday—is out of contract, so wide options are the order of the day in Bavaria.

It will be difficult for Lille to retain Pepe after such a strong campaign, so Boga may well be correct about his team-mate.

Lille Manager Christophe Galtier Says Avoiding Nicolas Pepe Sale 'Difficult'

Mar 6, 2019
LILLE, FRANCE - MARCH 03: Lille's Nicolas Pepe celebrates after his team scored goal during the Ligue 1 match between LOSC Lille and Dijon FCO at Stade Pierre Mauroy on March 03, 2019 in Lille, France. (Photo by Sylvain Lefevre/Getty Images)
LILLE, FRANCE - MARCH 03: Lille's Nicolas Pepe celebrates after his team scored goal during the Ligue 1 match between LOSC Lille and Dijon FCO at Stade Pierre Mauroy on March 03, 2019 in Lille, France. (Photo by Sylvain Lefevre/Getty Images)

Lille manager Christophe Galtier has said it will be "difficult" for the club to keep hold of star forward Nicolas Pepe beyond the summer transfer window.

The 23-year-old has been the key man behind a remarkable season for Lille. Having been embroiled in a relegation battle in Ligue 1 last term, they sit in second spot after 27 games in 2018-19, five points clear of Lyon in third.

Speaking about Pepe, Galtier conceded it will be a challenge to keep him at the club if he continues scoring at such an impressive rate, per Lluis Bou of Sport:

"It's difficult to keep these type of players in out league. When the biggest clubs in Europe call you, it's really complicated. 

"If Nicolas keeps going like this and improves his statistics by the end of the season, he will be on the shortlist of all of Europe's big clubs.

"The player's desire is also important. I am sure that, if the moment comes, everything will be very transparent. We will all try to find the best solution possible."

It appears any deal for the player will be costly. Lille president Gerard Lopez told Canal Plus (h/t Jake Polden of the Daily Mirror) that offers of €50 million (£43 million) have been rejected already.

"In England, there are clubs," he said. "We have had offers worth €50 million. We will not sell for less, we have even refused a €50 million bid. We had an offer from China worth €80 million with an astronomical salary, but he didn't want to go."

So far this season, Pepe has hit the back of the net on 16 occasions in Ligue 1, and he has notched eight assists. Unsurprisingly, he has been linked with a number of high-profile outfits, with Bou noting Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain have all made their interest known.

Arsenal have also been linked with a move for the player, per Dom Farrell of Goal.

After moving to Lille in the summer of 2017, Pepe enjoyed a fine first season at the club, scoring 13 goals in league matches. In the current campaign, he's stepped up his level again in terms of goalscoring and overall performance.

He's on a relatively short goal drought, although it's the longest run he's had without netting for Lille:

Prior to that, he was named as the division's best player in February:

Pepe has played as both a centre-forward and from the left flank this season. Regardless, he's been able to make an impression on matches, with his speed, quick feet and physicality too much for many opponents to handle.

The versatility and blend of attributes he possesses make Pepe a brilliant outlet for Galtier's side. As a left-footed player who tends to be at his best cutting in from the right flank, he'd also offer a different threat for a number of elite clubs.

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