Lille attacker Nicolas Pepe has emerged as a transfer target for Everton, it has been claimed.
Everton manager Marco Silva is keen to add an attacker this summer, and Pepe is one of the players on his radar, per the Telegraph.
The report also claims that Everton will have to spend £58.5million to sign Pepe, which would be a club-record fee.
Interestingly, Pepe has been linked with Everton’s arch-rivals Liverpool this summer, although they have strongly denied any sort of interest from their end.
How did Pepe fare last season?
Pepe was one of the top performers in Ligue 1 last season as he plundered 22 goals and 11 assists in 38 outings.
Playing a hand in 33 goals is impressive, and the fact that he also started 37 times shows how fit a player he is.
The creative spark Pepe provided was one of the reasons why Lille finished second in the league table, so it’s understandable that his stocks are high this summer.
Why Nicolas Pepe would be worth the outlay
The 24-year-old generally features on the right-wing, but is versatile enough to operate as a lone striker up front. His ability to play in multiple roles would help Everton as squad rotation was an issue last season.
The forwards contributed very little goals as well, so that’s another issue Pepe could solve.
Silva is reportedly keen to sign a player who can play as an inverted winger on the right, and Pepe fits the profile. Armed with pace and incredible dribbling ability, Pepe would be a nightmare for most full-backs in the Premier League.
The Ivory Coast international’s clinical finishing in addition to the aforementioned skills makes him an in-demand player, so you can see why so many clubs are after him this summer.
What makes him such a valuable player is that at 24, he has shown incredible composure in the attacking third, something his goals and assists suggest.
Though the switch from Ligue 1 to the Premier League won’t be easy, Pepe has the ability to replicate what Eden Hazard several years ago and take the English top-flight by storm next season.
