Arsenal are leading the race to sign exciting Lille winger Nicolas Pepe ahead of the upcoming winter transfer window scheduled to begin as from the start of next month.
Metro claim that Gunners are favourites to sign the French Ligue 1 star ahead of Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea.
Spanish La Liga champions Barcelona are also interested in Nicolas Pepe.
Ivorian international star Pepe has been in sensational form for Lille since he made his debut for the club.
He was the main man for Lille as the French club escaped relegation from Ligue 1 at the end of last season.
Since he made his debut for Lille in 2017, Nicolas Pepe has scored 25 goals in 54 Ligue 1 appearances.
Pepe has continued his impressive form into the new season.
He has scored 12 goals and provided seven assists in 18 French Ligue 1 appearances this season.
French media outlet L’Equipe revealed that Lille are willing to negotiate for Pepe and it was claimed that the 23-year-old has a release clause of around £45m (€50m).
Arsenal have made the recruitment for a forward one of two top priorities in the January transfer market alongside the potential acquisition of a new centre back.
Nicolas Pepe would be a very good replacement for the injured Danny Welbeck.
England international forward Welbeck has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a broken ankle.
