Man Utd to go back in for Lille winger Nicolas Pepe as Solskjaer plans ‘ambitious squad’ while Liverpool also show transfer interest
MANCHESTER UNITED are set to go back in for Lille winger Nicolas Pepe this summer – with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer planning an “ambitious squad” for 2019-20. The Ivory Coast forward, 24, is on the radar of a host of European giants, including Liverpool, Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan. Arsenal have also been in for Pepe […]
MANCHESTER UNITED are set to go back in for Lille winger Nicolas Pepe this summer – with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer planning an “ambitious squad” for 2019-20.
The Ivory Coast forward, 24, is on the radar of a host of European giants, including Liverpool, Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan.
Arsenal have also been in for Pepe since January, but are unlikely to have the money to complete any transfer, with the star valued at upwards of £70million.
Reports in France claim Pepe would prefer a move to PSG – as he aims to take over the role set to be vacated by wantaway Neymar.
L’Equipe claim Inter have tabled a sky-high £80m bid this week – but that is only set to spark a bidding war.
And Solskjaer is committed to landing the 11-cap Ivory Coast international – who is currently away on African Cup of Nations duty – as he bolsters his misfiring United attack.
Romelu Lukaku is set to leave this summer, with Inter Milan still negotiating their offer, as United see them as being £22m short.
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Meanwhile, the club are hoping to offload Alexis Sanchez, due to his appalling form and £505,000-a-week wages.
Solskjaer wants to reinvest any money earned into building an “ambitious squad” – according to highly-respected newspaper La Voix du Nord.
The Norwegian desperately wants a team capable of challenging for the top-four once again, after they imploded during the 2018-19 run-in.
Paul Pogba could also be off, with Real Madrid hoping to land him for just £90m – with United holding out for closer to £150m.
But the Red Devils have signed exciting winger Daniel James from Swansea, who was spotted ramping-up his pre-season training on Monday.
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Solskjaer has also “begged” Ed Woodward to help him seal a deal for Sporting midfielder Bruno Fernandes.
The Old Trafford club are also shock candidates to sign Tottenham’s Christian Eriksen who “wants a new challenge” – but may find it harder to land a defender.
United have been chasing Kalidou Koulibaly and Harry Maguire for a year now, but could miss out on both – to Juventus and rivals Manchester City respectively.
The club have also been told they’ll need to fork out at least £430m to land Los Blancos star Raphael Varane – well over twice the record fee for a player (Neymar, £198m).
