Transfer Centre

Arsenal, Manchester United told to pay £69m for Lille attacker Nicolas Pepe

By Barney Corkhill, Editor | 06 March 2019

Lille president Gerard Lopez suggests that there is an €80m asking price on Nicolas Pepe, who has been linked with Arsenal, Manchester United and Barcelona.

Lille have placed an €80m (£68.8m) asking price on the head of Arsenal and Manchester United target Nicolas Pepe.

Pepe has been heavily linked with a move to one of Europe's top clubs this summer, having scored 16 goals in 27 appearances so far this season.

The likes of Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona, Manchester United and Arsenal are all understood to be monitoring the winger ahead of a possible move when the transfer window reopens, but Lille president Gerard Lopez has insisted that the 23-year-old will not be allowed to leave cheaply.

Lopez revealed that the club have already rejected bids of €50m (£43m) and even received an €80m approach which the player himself turned down.

"That does not just depend on the club. It also depends on the player. He deserves to play at the highest level. We have offers yes," he told Canal Plus.

"In England, there are clubs. We have had offers worth €50m. We will not sell for less, we have even refused a €50m bid.

"We had an offer from China worth €80m with an astronomical salary, but he didn't want to go."

Such a hefty price tag is likely to see Arsenal fall out of the running, with the Gunners being restricted by their transfer budget this summer.