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Lille president makes fresh statement on Man Utd target Nicolas Pepe as four offers go in
LILLE have received four offers for Nicolas Pepe this summer, according to their president Gerard Lopez.
Pepe’s fine form last season has seen him attract interest from a number of clubs across Europe.
Manchester United are understood to be keen on acquiring the winger’s services this summer, with manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer keen to increase his squad’s firepower.
But the Norwegian faces a battle to sign the Ivory Coast international as three unnamed suitors, and Napoli, have met Lille’s valuation of the player.
“Last year we asked Pepe to stay with the promise that we would sell in this transfer window,” Lopez told Tuttosport.
“We received offers that satisfy us economically from four big clubs.
“[Napoli chairman Aurelio] De Laurentiis has satisfied our request for €80m (£71million). Now it is up to the player to decide where he wants to go.
“He must make that decision based on the offers that his agents have received from the four clubs.”
Lille are hoping for a swift resolution to the ongoing saga and believe Pepe will decide his future next week.
We received offers that satisfy us economically from four big clubs
Lopez added: “On Monday, Pepe will return from vacation and I believe that by the middle of the week he will have made a decision.”
Serie A side Napoli are currently pursuing Pepe’s signature and their manager Carlo Ancelotti is confident of signing the 24-year-old.
“Obviously, we are interested in Pepe, his agents are here and there’s no point hiding that," Ancelotti said.
“Negotiations are in progress and we’ll see what happens. Pepe is a wide attacking player.
"We want to find someone who can play between the lines.”
Pepe joined Lille from Angers in the summer of 2017 for a fee of £9million.
The Ivorian has scored 37 goals in 79 appearances for the Ligue 1 side, with 23 of those coming last season.