Daily Mail journalist Dominic King has shut down Liverpool’s reported pursuit of Lille winger Nicolas Pepe.
Liverpool were recently reported by the Times to have been in the race to sign the Ivorian international alongside fellow Premier League sides Manchester United, Arsenal, and Everton.
The North West football reporter replied to a Liverpool fan on his personal Twitter account claiming it’s time to “announce Pepe”, shutting down the rumours emphatically.
No it isn't. And it never will be, either.
— Dominic King (@DominicKing_DM) July 23, 2019
The 24-year-old enjoyed his best season yet in Ligue 1, helping guide Lille to the Champions League for the first time in their history. Pepe managed to score 23 goals and deliver a further 12 assists in the league and French Cup.
OPINION
Given how emphatic King’s response was to this Liverpool fan, it seems more of a solid answer rather than speculation. The journalist claimed it will never happen after the Reds’ fan was clearly jumping the gun. There is no doubting that Pepe would be a great signing for Jurgen Klopp, with the Ivorian having an outstanding season. But, one campaign doesn’t justify Liverpool going out and spending big money on a player that wouldn’t be guaranteed first-team minutes. With Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino, and Sadio Mane having outscored 13 Premier League sides, there is no need to sign a player who is ready to replace one of those. Should one of those move on, then Pepe is exactly the sort of player they should sign. Pepe was outstanding, averaging 3.1 shots per game as well as an impressive 2.7 dribbles which led to him being fouled 2.8 times every outing [Source: WhoScored]. It certainly isn’t the end of the world that King has suggested Pepe won’t be at Anfield, with the Ivorian not exactly needed right now.
