Why Manchester City should avoid making a move for Nicolas Pepe
Premier League champions Manchester City are interested in Lille attacker Nicolas Pepe, according to a report from the Sport.
The Ivorian, 23, has impressed at Stade Pierre Mauroy this term with eight goals and seven assists, playing a key part in Lille’s rise to third place in the Ligue 1 this season.
Lille signed Nicolas Pepe from Angers in 2017 and the 23-year-old was instrumental in helping the club achieve safety last season. And his blistering form this season has caught the attention of Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City. But should the English champions make a move for the jet-heeled attacker?
Nicolas Pepe is extremely quick and is an effective dribbler with the ball, which helps him lose his marker in a blink of an eye. He is pacy, agile, aggressive and has developed a knack for scoring and creating goals for Lille.
The Ivorian is capable of wreaking havoc down the right-hand side of the midfield and has some impressive tricks up his sleeve.
The 23-year-old is not a one-trick pony in any sense. Pepe is adept at crossing as well as cutting inside on to his strong left foot to punch a shot from the edge of the box.
Filled with a lot of pace and flair, the Ivorian can change the course of the game very quickly and has all the qualities needed to thrive in the Premier League.
As far as Manchester City’s interest in Pepe is concerned, they should avoid signing him when the transfer window reopens in January. Truth be told, City are playing like champions at the moment and are unbeaten in the Premier League.
The Cityzens are thrashing teams left, right and centre with Guardiola managing to once again lay down an early marker in the top-flight.
City have a plethora of options in their attack such as Sergio Aguero, Riyad Mahrez, Raheem Sterling, Leroy Sane, Bernardo Silva, Gabriel Jesus, David Silva, Kevin De Bruyne and Brahim Diaz.
So keeping in mind the options at disposal, Guardiola should not splash the cash on Nicolas Pepe. Instead, the manager should use the money to improve the other areas of the squad if required.
Despite the talent that Pepe possesses, he simply won’t be able to break into the City first-team filled with a galaxy of stars. At 23, he has a lot of time to get better and his best years definitely lay ahead of him.
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No matter how good he is at the moment, the speedy Ivorian is still a raw talent and should buy more time in the Ligue 1 before making the next big move in his career.