Lille manager admits Man Utd and Arsenal target Nicolas Pepe will leave this summer

Lille boss Christophe Galtier has announced Nicholas Pepe will leave the Ligue 1 club this summer.

Pepe, 23, is attracting interest from Premier League duo Manchester United and Arsenal after an incredible season in France, and he fits the profile of player Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is trying to sign over the coming months.

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The Ivory Coast international scored 21 goals and registered 12 assists in all competitions for Lille, and their fans must be concerned now about losing a player capable of recording such records per season.

And, another thing to note is these numbers have already sparked enough interest in Pepe to make him one of the most eagerly sought players in the transfer market this summer, so it might not be a straight forward purchase.

“Nicolas Pepe will leave,” Galtier told Canal+, as quoted by the Daily Star.

“Life’s like that, football’s like that today.

“He is a player of the highest level who will have a big decision to make on the choice of his next club.

“There will be a battle between the great European teams.

“I hope that he will take good amount of time to think about it, do his research.

“Like he did when he came here and when he decided to stay here [last summer], find the right project.”

United need a player like Pepe on either flank, who consistently gives something to the team.

As good as Anthony Martial is, he blows hot and cold too often, and I’m still unsure we can go an entire season depending on him and Marcus Rashford.

This one might have legs to grow throughout the summer, so we’ll be keeping an eye on it.

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