Liverpool Linked With £72m Swoop For Ligue 1 Star

Premier League leaders Liverpool are the latest team to be linked with highly rated Lille forward Nicolas Pepe ahead of the January transfer window.

Spanish media portal Don Balon claim that the Reds have joined Premier League rivals Arsenal and Liverpool in the race to sign the talented winger.

The Ivorian international star is one of the most in-form players in European football and that explains why a lot of the big clubs are jostling for his signature.

• Barcelona Offer Liverpool Target €10m Sign-on Fee

The 23-year-old has been in devastating form for Lille in the new French Ligue 1 and his goal contributions have made the club a major contender for UEFA Champions League qualification ahead of next season.

Pepe burst onto the scene last season when he played a major role for Lille as they escaped relegation from the French top flight last season.

Lille spent the majority of the last campaign in the relegation zone to the extent that Argentine tactician Marcelo Bielsa was sacked as manager but Pepe came through with some big performances to steer the club away from trouble.

He has scored 12 league goals in the new campaign among him the second top scorer in France’s top division behind Paris Saint Germain (PSG) attacker Kylian Mbappe.