Arsenal and Manchester City target Nicolas Pepe has answered the transfer speculation swirling around him ahead of the opening of the January transfer window by insisting he will not leave Lille before the end of the campaign.
The Ivoirian has been in great form for Lille this season and his performances have led to interest from some of the biggest clubs in Europe ahead of the winter window.
Barcelona and Bayern Munich have been keeping tabs on the attacker and he has also attracted interest from the Premier League, with Arsenal and Manchester City interested.
There have also been suggestions that Lille could consider big money offers for Pepe in the winter window, but the player himself has counted out that possibility.
The attacker insisted that he wants to stay at Lille until the end of the season and help the Ligue 1 club to qualify for European competition.
He also stressed that his contract with Lille runs until the summer of 2022.
Pepe told French daily La Voix du Nord when asked whether he will be staying at Lille this season: “For me that’s certain.
“As the president said, I decided to finish the season at Lille and before that nothing will be done.
“I am under contract until 2022. My idea is to stay until the end of the season at Lille and why not qualify for Europe?
“It would be beautiful.”
Pepe, who has scored 12 Ligue 1 goals this season, has also earned 10 international caps for the Ivory Coast.
