---
title: "President confirms Liverpool target Pepe close to Lille departure"
canonical: "https://readliverpoolfc.com/news/president-confirms-liverpool-target-pepe-close-to-lille-departure/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Charlie Smith"
section: "Liverpool News"
published: "2019-07-23T13:03:13Z"
modified: "2019-07-23T13:03:14Z"
---

# President confirms Liverpool target Pepe close to Lille departure

Lille club president Gerard Lopez has revealed that Nicolas Pepe is close to leaving the club.

The 24-year-old has been heavily linked with a €70 million move to Liverpool this summer, with numerous other European giants also named as potential suitors for the forward.

![Carlos Rodrigues/Getty Images Sport](https://cdn.readeverything.co/readliverpoolfc/2019/07/1002931994.jpg)

Liverpool’s rivals Manchester United and Arsenal have been tipped to sign the Ivorian ahead of the new season, with Inter Milan also named as a potential destination for the pacey forward.

The heavy speculation regarding the Ligue 1 star has come to fruition after Pepe’s outstanding individual campaign last season.

Pepe scored 23 times in 41 appearances for Lille, helping them to a shock second-placed finish in the French top flight.

And talking to [French outlet La Voix du Nord, cited by GFFN](https://www.getfootballnewsfrance.com/2019/lille-president-gerard-lopez-on-nicolas-pepe-for-him-it-is-almost-done/), president Lopez confirmed that the Ivorian is close to ending his two-year association with the club.

> Our work is done.

> In terms of departures and arrivals: if a player leaves, we will go and get what we need.

> For Nico, it is almost done and he could have left last summer. It’s true that there are big offers and big clubs in for him, so I think… (he will leave). Aside from that, you never know in football.

It remains to be seen as to who is winning the race for the highly-rated forward, however, we may well get an answer soon, which could see the star make the move to Merseyside.