Agent confirms transfer talks as Arsenal & Man Utd step-up pursuit of £59m star

Managers are working hard trying to strengthen their squads during the summer transfer window so we’ll bring you all the latest news and gossip from around the globe. Here, Nicolas Pepe’s agent offers an update on the attackers future….

The agent of Nicolas Pepe has confirmed talks are underway over a potential £59m move away from Lille this summer amid interest from Arsenal and Manchester United, according to The Sun.

Pepe is one of the most in-demand young attackers in Europe after enjoying a stunning season with Lille last year that saw him contribute 23 goals and 12 assists in his 41 appearances in all competitions making him one of the deadliest attackers in Ligue 1.

The 24-year-old’s form has caught the attention of clubs here in the Premier League with The Sun claiming that Arsenal and Manchester United have stepped-up their interest in signing the £59m-rated attacker this summer.

The English giants will face competition from abroad with Bayern Munich linked in the media recently while the newspaper says Paris Saint-Germain are also keeping a close eye on the Ivory Coast international’s situation.

Pepe’s agent, Samir Khiat, has now offered an update by confirming that discussions are taking place with interested clubs and he says Pepe is ‘open to everything’. However, Khiat insists the player wants to join a club where he’s guaranteed first team football in order to continue his development.

The agent is quoted by The Sun as telling French TV show L’Equipe Mercato:

“Nicolas is open to everything. The aim is for him to sign in the right place. PSG is a possibility.

“Today, all parties need to reach an agreement. There are exchanges and discussions. He is wanted by a considerable number of clubs.

“For him the most important thing is to be wanted and to go to a good club in which he will play and continue to progress.”

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has already snapped up young winger Daniel James and right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka but the United boss will need to sign another attacker if Romelu Lukaku completes a move to Italy and it seems Pepe is on his radar.

Unai Emery is also in the market for a wide forward after Arsenal let Danny Welbeck leave on a free transfer and Pepe could be viewed as an alternative target to Wilfried Zaha with Crystal Palace pricing him out of a move to the Emirates.

READ –> Arsenal transfer news | Man Utd transfer news

We’ll have to wait and see how things develop but I think Pepe would be an exciting signing for Arsenal or Man Utd if either club was able to lure him to England this summer as he’s a huge talent who can play anywhere across the front three.