Everton Set to Rival Liverpool in Race to Sign £59m-Rated Lille Forward Nicolas Pepe

​Everton have joined the race to sign highly-rated Lille forward Nicolas Pepe, who has also been continually linked with a move to Liverpool.

Pepe enjoyed a stellar 2018/19 campaign in France, where he registered an impressive tally of 22 goals in Ligue 1 - only being outscored by Paris Saint-Germain's Kylian Mbappe. 

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As a result, the Ivorian forward looks set for a big-money move this summer and, according to ​The Telegraph​Everton are the latest club to express an interest in the 24-year-old.

Pepe is said to be one of a number of potential candidates being lined up by Marco Silva, who is looking for a left-footed attacker capable of playing on the right-hand side of a forward line.

Alongside Pepe, the Toffees are also considering potential moves for Bertrand Traore and Malcom, who would both be cheaper alternatives.

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Any prospective deal for Pepe will be put on hold while he remains on international duty with Ivory Coast, who are set to compete in the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations later this week.

Lille president Gerard Lopez previously revealed that the Ligue 1 outfit had received two bids from unnamed clubs prior to his involvement at AFCON - also claiming that ​Liverpool have been in contact with the player himself.

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"We had two offers before the Africa Cup of Nations, we'll see after that," he told ​RMC Sport.


"I know there have been discussions with the player but not with us as a club, Liverpool has players in his position, and I read that he could go there if players leave. I am not particularly focused on Liverpool. But it is true that there have been discussions with agents."


Source : 90min