Napoli & Inter fight for Pepe
By Football Italia staff
Napoli are reportedly set to offer €55m plus Adam Ounas for Lille forward Nicolas Pepe, but Inter have already bid €80m including bonuses.
According to Sportitalia’s Alfredo Pedulla, Napoli’s insistence on a loan deal for James Rodriguez is because they are ready to splash the cash on Pepe.
Pedulla explains the Partenopei have been working on a deal for ‘some time’, even before their interest in James, and have decided to table a bid of €50-55m plus Adam Ounas.
Despite playing very little in his two years at the San Paolo, Ounas has caught the eye during Algeria’s run to the Africa Cup of Nations Final with two goals and two assists.
However, L’Equipe claims Inter, along with Arsenal and Liverpool, have already sent formal offers to Lille.
Nonetheless, the newspaper notes the French club will contact Napoli or Atletico Madrid if Pepe does not want to join any of the aforementioned trio, to see if they are willing to match offers of €80m with bonuses included.
The Ivorian scored 23 goals during a breakout 2018-19 campaign, helping his side finish second in Ligue 1.
Wingers like Pepe would work in a 343 while deploying a defensive minded wing back covering Pepe's side.
Hazard and Willian are wingers and Conte played them both in a 343 with Azpilicueta and Alonso as wing backs, who are good defensively.
Lukaku over Cavani any day of the week for me. And btw, dunno why people are causing so much drama over potential Lukaku signing. I mean, our club has been stacked with garbage players over the past few years and we have failed to attract top quality players, let's stick to reality. We cannot sign Hazards, Griezmanns these days. Maybe in the near future if we keep making progress and grow in term of quality and win trophies.
If you cannot attract top players, don't waste 80m on a non-top player. How's that for a strategy?
We need a proven striker since there is no turning back for Icardi. You are better than this brehme, today's prices of transfer market are crazy... I mean you pay almost 50m for Barella... I refuse to talk about prices anymore, just give me quality players and play quality football.
We need a proven striker since there is no turning back for Icardi. You are better than this brehme, today's prices of transfer market are crazy... I mean you pay almost 50m for Barella... I refuse to talk about prices anymore, just give me quality players and play quality football.
If you cannot attract top players, don't waste 80m on a non-top player. How's that for a strategy?
I also love how well we're taking the fact that our best striker is going on a discount to a better team than us that also participates in our league. Be it Napoli or Juventus, the fact is they want this guy whilst we're looking to spend more than we receive and pay him more than we ever offered him for a lesser player. And people are applauding...
Lukaku over Cavani any day of the week for me.
I don't think its an argument of whether you would prefer Lukaku or Cavani. Its a question of economics. Its more like whether you would prefer Lukaku+Dzeko+Gagliardini or Cavani+Kean+SMS.
There is no right answer, we all have our opinions, but I would prefer the latter.