According to RMC Sport journalist Mohamed Bouhafsi, as cited by LiverpoolEcho, Liverpool have opened talks with LOSC Lille regarding the potential signing of Nicolas Pepe. It is believed that the Reds are negotiating a £59 million bid for the highly rated attacker, who is also courted by Inter Milan and Bayern Munich.
This could be a massive boost for Liverpool as they aim to strengthen their attacking options. But, is Pepe really the right choice by Jurgen Klopp? Here are the pros and cons of the Lille star’s potential move to Anfield this summer.
Pros
It’s probably fair to say that Pepe is currently one of Europe’s biggest attacking prospects, having enjoyed a remarkable campaign in the French Ligue 1. The winger scored 22 goals and provided 11 assists in 38 league matches – making him the second most productive player in the French top flight in the corresponding season.
Hence, Pepe is someone who can be very productive in the final third and that tunes in well with Liverpool’s attacking brand of football under Klopp. He can also provide mobility and dynamism in the attack, which could make the Reds much more dangerous, especially on the counter.
Most importantly, Liverpool have lacked reliable options in the wider attacking positions other than the revered duo of Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane. Pepe, in that regard, could be an ideal back-up for these two attackers and is a definite upgrade to the likes of Xherdan Shaqiri and Adam Lallana.
Therefore, Pepe will be able to add more quality to the Liverpool as they aim to pose a substantial threat for the Premier League title next season.
Cons
Pepe’s staggering valuation of £59 million makes him no less than a gamble from Liverpool’s perspective. It also raises the question as to whether or not he will be able to live up to his hefty price-tag. And the fact that the Lille attacker is unlikely to play a prominent role in the first-team will make it even harder for him to integrate to his new club.
Many Ligue 1 players in the past (Hatem Ben Arfa, Florian Thauvin etc.) have already struggled to cope with the high-intensity football of the Premier League. The same could apply to the Ivorian.
And with both Salah and Mane blocking his passage into the first team, it can be argued that Liverpool may not be the best destination for Pepe unless the Reds sell someone like Salah this summer, which is extremely unlikely.
For Liverpool, however, Pepe would be a great buy despite his expensive fees as he can not only offer additional options to Klopp in attack but can also enhance the club’s productivity in the final third.
