Lille president says Arsenal target is “sure to leave” this summer

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Arsenal target Nicolas Pepe is guaranteed to depart Lille at the end of the season, according to the French club's president.

Nicolas Pepe

The 23-year-old has caught the attention of Europe’s top clubs this season after scoring 19 Ligue 1 goals to help his club pull eight points clear in second place.

Pepe netted again on Sunday night when Lille stunned runaway leaders PSG with a 5-1 demolition – the first time the Parisian side have conceded five goals in a league game since 2000.

"Four or five players will be leaving this summer,” he told Telefoot.

“All clubs are forced to balance their accounts except perhaps one. I would say yes, it is sure he [Pepe] will leave.

“He enters a price range that can no longer be paid. There is a career choice to make for him, I think he will have the choice."

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Alasdair Mackenzie

Alasdair Mackenzie is a freelance journalist based in Rome, and a FourFourTwo contributor since 2015. When not pulling on the FFT shirt, he can be found at Reuters, The Times and the i. An Italophile since growing up on a diet of Football Italia on Channel 4, he now counts himself among thousands of fans sharing a passion for Ross County and Lazio.