Manchester United haven’t given up their interest in Lille winger Nicolas Pepe, according to “hyper-reliable” French paper La Voix du Nord (via GFFN).
The Ivory Coast star, 24, is being chased by a number of European clubs, including Liverpool, Paris-Saint Germain and Inter Milan, according to The Sun.
Manchester United are understandably desperate to improve on last season’s shocker which left them trophy-less and in sixth place in the Premier League, and a new forward might be the direction Solskjaer takes to achieve that.
As it stands, recent recruit Daniel James and Juan Mata are the only current United players who can operate in Pepe’s preferred right-wing position. However, with the former Swansea man yet to prove himself at the top level and Mata lacking the necessary attributes to fit into Solskjaer preferred counter-attacking system, which was recognised to be in full force during their 11-game unbeaten run, it’s easy to see why the club are back in the market.
Pepe, who is currently valued at £58.50million by Transfermarkt, can almost guarantee some pretty promising returns. Last season, the France-born forward scored 22 times and provided 11 assists as Lille climbed into second place in Ligue 1. On average he produced 3.1 shots per game (more than anyone in the current Manchester United squad), 2.7 dribbles (again, more than any star at United) and 1.6 key passes (on level with Paul Pogba, who is tipped to leave Old Trafford for either Juventus or Real Madrid in the summer).
It’s obvious that United need to re-evaluate their options up front. Marcus Rashford failed to hit the heights expected of him, scoring just 10 Premier League goals, and Anthony Martial – though promising for a period between October and November, where he scored six times in five appearances – finished the season on a relative low like the rest of the squad. They need, at the very least, someone new and exciting to compete with them for starting birth; a player who can challenge them to consistently reach higher levels of ability. Pepe could be that man.
It’s not up to Ed Woodward and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to put their heads together and do right by the fans and sign the necessary talent to hoist the club back to where they belong: the top.
Manchester United fans, would you like to see Nicolas Pepe in a United shirt? Let us know in the comments below…
About the Author
