Lille responds to Nicolas Pepe’s transfer speculations

Lille have denied Arsenal and Barcelona target Nicolas Pepe will leave the club this January. Club President Gerard Lopez has said no deal would be accepted in the upcoming transfer window. "What if Barcelona gives me €100million (£87m) by Pepe? He will not leave this winter. I want him to continue here, we want him to stay, he wants to stay," Lopez said. Vice-president Marc Ingla added: "We do not think about it before the summer. In principle not (even for €50m or €60m), because we are in the logic of going at least until the end of the season. "When we talk about it with him, we feel that he is in a mission with LOSC this season, and not thinking about transfers until the summer. It is true that he is a very sought-after player." The Sun reported Arsenal would make a move for Pepe following Danny Welbeck’s ankle injury.

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