Bayern Munich heavily linked with Lille OSC star Nicolas Pepe
Over the last few days, several reports have surfaced linking Bayern Munich Lille OSC’s breakout star, 23-year-old winger Nicolas Pepe.
Nicolas Pepe has been the breakout star of the 2018-19 season in Ligue 1. The 23-year-old Ivorian has starred for Lille OSC, leading them to the top of the French table (well, as close to the top as any team not named Paris Saint-Germain can get), and Bayern Munich have taken notice.
Primarily a right-winger, though capable of leading the attack from center-forward, Pepe has been a menace for Ligue 1 defenders all season long. He’s just 23 and plays in a far-from-stellar Lille side, but he has already registered 16 goals this season (putting him third behind Kylian Mbappe and Edinson Cavani) and eight assists (tied for first across the French league).
His impressive numbers and all-around great season have made him one of the hottest prospects in Europe. His future is largely undecided, but one thing is almost certain: Nicolas Pepe won’t be playing for Lille next season.
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At least, that’s how his current coach, Christoph Galtier, sees it. Speaking recently with L’Equipe (via Kicker), Galtier tipped Pepe to make a big move over the summer.
"“Pepe is having a great season and will continue to impress. He is ready to go to a Champions League club. In my opinion, he does not need an intermediate step.“I see him in a team that plays in red and likes to play with wingers that play on their weaker side.”"
Kicker further add in their report, meanwhile, that Bayern Munich have been monitoring the player for a while and are considering a move for him. He’d serve as a like-for-like replacement to Arjen Robben, who is retiring in the summer.
Kicker‘s report, combined with those from French outlets L’Equipe and France Football, all but confirm that Bayern’s interest in the player is serious. It’s a move that would make sense for the Bavarian giants anyway. Pepe is fairly young but has a few years of first team experience under his belt. He wouldn’t cost any more than €60-70 million, making him a relatively affordable option to add to their attack.
However, there are some questions surrounding his overall ability. Despite his spectacular season, Pepe is still a very raw talent. He’s an excellent dribbler with a great eye for goal, but his crossing and finishing could still use some improvement, as could his decision making. Furthermore, Bild report that Pepe is only seen as an alternative to Callum Hudson-Odoi. If Bayern can’t sign the Chelsea youngster over the summer, then Lille’s dynamic forward is seen as the next best option.
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If Bild‘s report is true, it’s hard to argue that Bayern aren’t approaching this transfer in the best possible way. Pepe is a great talent and could be secured for a relatively low fee. However, Hudson-Odoi should remain the first choice target for the Bavarians given his younger age and higher ceiling. Should Chelsea remain stubborn this summer, however, Pepe would serve as a more than capable alternative.