Could Pochettino’s Tottenham end Southampton’s reported Nicholas Pepe hopes?

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Lille’s Ligue 1 winger Nicholas Pepe is reportedly a target for Premier League duo Spurs and Southampton.

The January transfer window cannot come soon enough for Mark Hughes.

The Southampton manager is under pressure now with The Saints having won just one of eight Premier League games so far. The dearth of creativity that held Southampton back last season remains a major problem too with just six goals tallied, the third lowest in the division.

So no wonder Southampton were reportedly planning an ambitious swoop for the in-demand Nicholas Pepe.

According to The Sun in September, the South Coast side have been watching the Ivory Coast international, who has scored six and set up four more goals in nine Ligue 1 games this season.

But Tottenham are also keen on the free-scoring, £30 million-rated winger, according to The Times. And could Southampton’s hopes of bringing Pepe to St Mary’s be scuppered by their one-time manager Mauricio Pochettino?

Well, you could hardly blame ambitious Pepe for choosing a Tottenham side who have become Champions League regulars of late over a Southampton team who only survived relegation by the skin of their teeth in May.

But with Heung Min Son, Erik Lamela and Christian Eriksen among the attacking options at Pochettino’s disposal, it is clear which side needs Pepe more.