Everton have reportedly ended their interest in Lille star Nicolas Pepe – but is it the right decision by the Toffees?
According to the Liverpool Echo, cited by HITC, Everton have decided against signing the Ligue 1 winger due to his high price tag.
The Toffees had been linked with a move for the player, with Lille reportedly valuing the Ivorian at £58 million.
Liverpool and Arsenal have both been linked with a move for the 24-year-old who scored 22 times in the French top-flight last season, with the player likely to depart his current club ahead of the new season.
The decision to end their interest in the winger appears to be a sensible one.
Even though Pepe would have fit Marco Silva’s side with ease after his stellar individual campaign, it would have been unlikely the player would have been keen on a move to Goodison Park.
Pepe looks set to chase Champions League football next season, something Liverpool and French champions Paris Saint-Germain can offer the pacey forward.
Everton ending their interest now will allow them to target other attacking options, with Silva also keen on adding a marquee signing at the back.
The £58 million the Toffees could have spent on Pepe may well be enough to sign a high-profile defender and a natural goal scorer, so the club ending their interest in Pepe could turn out to be a smart move in the long run.
