Newcastle United reportedly failed with a move for Nicolas Pepe on deadline day.
According to L’Equipe, Angers winger Nicolas Pepe rejected a deadline day move to Newcastle United, as well as Hull City and Watford.
Pepe, 21, has been on the books with Angers since arriving from Poitiers in 2013, but he spent last season on loan at Orleans, scoring seven goals in 29 appearances in the third tier of French football.
This term, Pepe has notched three goals and one assist in 21 league appearances for Angers, and whilst he’s started just seven of those games, he’s attracted major interest.
Nicolas Pepe
L’Equipe report that Pepe had offers from three English clubs – Hull City, Newcastle United and Watford – but rejected all three in order to stay in France with Angers.
Having attracted so much interest in January, Pepe may well have offers on the table at the end of the season too, and Newcastle should be weighing up whether to try again.
General view of St. James’ Park
Manager Rafael Benitez clearly wanted a new winger in January, and with Yoan Gouffran out of contract and Christian Atsu set to return to Cheslea at the end of his loan deal, adding quality out wide remains important to the Magpies.
Pepe, an Ivorian international, is quick and skilful going forward, but remains a real project player, and his lack of starts for Angers – who sit 18th in the Ligue 1 table – is something of a concern, whilst Newcastle’s history of shopping in French football can bring up a host of cautionary tales.
A proven Premier League winger like Andros Townsend may be more of what Newcastle would look for should they win promotion to the Premier League, but Pepe’s pace and potential will make him appealing again.
Raw and with improvements to make, Pepe could be a winger for Newcastle to develop over the coming years, but they must be careful of spending too much on a 21-year-old project who has yet to really establish himself as a regular in Ligue 1.
As depth out wide with a view to becoming a first-team player in the future, Pepe could be a smart target for the Magpies, but if he’s being viewed as a starter for Newcastle in the Premier League – should they win promotion – then the Magpies may be better of spending their money on a more proven wide man.
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