Newcastle United have been linked with Lille’s Ligue 1 winger Nicolas Pepe since January 2017.
Nicolas Pepe has been on Newcastle United’s radar for almost two years now.
According to The Chronicle, The Magpies were keen to sign the speedy Angers forward back in January 2017 – but they backed away from a move with claims suggesting that they were not willing to meet his £10 million price-tag.
Interestingly, the Northern Echo now states that Newcastle manager Rafa Benitez would love to rekindle his interest in Pepe – but there is now an acceptance that this particular ship has sailed.
In the last few months, Pepe has taken his game to a whole new level and he has blossomed since moving to Lille. The Ivorian has scored seven goals in 11 games for the Ligue 1 high-flyers and the Echo adds that he is likely to cost around £40 million when he does eventually leave Les Dogues.
Genuine European powerhouses like Bayern Munich, Barcelona and Arsenal have emerged as potential destinations so the chances of Newcastle signing Pepe look particularly slim.
The report does claim that Newcastle are increasingly confident of signing another long-term target, the in-form Frankfurt striker Sebastien Haller, with Watford’s Troy Deeney another name on Benitez’s radar although his age makes a move unlikely.
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