Why Everton should avoid signing Lille winger Nicolas Pepe
Everton are among a number of clubs interested in signing Lille winger Nicolas Pepe, according to the Daily Mail.
Pepe, 23, has enjoyed a stunning start to the Ligue 1 season, scoring five goals in eight games. Everton are monitoring the Ivorian’s situation and have to pay around £30million for the player, while Arsenal, Barcelona and Sevilla are also keen on his signature.
Pepe joined Lille from Angers last year on a five-year deal. He scored 13 goals in 36 Ligue1 appearances last term, helping Lille finish 17th last term, one place and one point above the relegation zone.
The Ivorian is one of the brightest attacking sparks in France, and his performances have attracted the attention of Everton. The Toffees have been a mixed bag so far this season, recording two wins, two defeats and three draws in the Premier League.
If the Toffees are to push towards finishing in the top six, they need to start picking up wins on a constant basis. The summer signings are slowly starting to gel and Marco Silva is getting positive results now.
As far as Pepe is concerned, he has been earning rave reviews in France due to his dazzling displays for Lille. The speedster has also started the season very well and also bagged a hat-trick in the 3-2 win at Amines last month.
The 23-year-old has become a crucial cog in the Lille team and manager Christophe Galtier would want to keep his squad together to avoid another relegation battle.
If one looks at Everton’s squad, it’s tough to see Pepe break into the starting line-up. The Toffees already have Richarlison, Theo Walcott and Bernard in the wide department and beyond that, Silva has more options. Ademola Lookman is a promising young talent destined to have a bright future at Goodison Park.
This would make signing Pepe a pointless signing for Everton as they are well stocked in the attacking department. Rather than signing the Ivorian, Silva must focus on other areas of his team that need improvement.
Read more: 3 Top-class strikers who can fire Everton to a top-6 finish this season including this PL machine
Blessed with explosive pace and eye-catching dribbling skills, Pepe is a really good player who has the ability to terrify defenders and give them a run for their money. However, he won’t be a guaranteed starter at Everton should he decide to make a move and Silva must avoid signing the Lille star.