Manchester City Emerge As Contenders To Sign Reported Manchester United Target

Not content with sitting pretty at the pinnacle of the English top tier table, Manchester City aren’t simply trying to wrench Premier League dominance further away from fierce rivals Manchester United, but are also looking at poaching some of the Red Devils’ targeted talent.

On the eve of the Manchester Derby, The Times suggests that City have made an enquiry into the availability of Lille star Nicolas Pépé.

Back in September, The Sportsman reported United’s interest in the winger, who started the Ligue 1 season in scintillating form, and who has also attracted the attention of European powerhouse Barcelona.

For Pépé's Lille, a run of four straight wins came to an end - albeit narrowly - at the Parc des Princes in the most recent gameweek; a 2-1 win for PSG leaves them remain undistracted and untouched at the top of the table in a record-breaking run of 12 straight opening wins and 11 points clear.

Though the defeat to Les Parisiens slightly pushes Lille down to third behind Montpellier on goal-difference it was a game, however, in which it was Pepe once again made a name for himself by grabbing a well-earned consolation at the death.

Ivory Coast winger Pépé has made waves this campaign with him being a principal reason as to why Lille have made an impressive start to the season, their position in the France top three a stark contrast to their standing at the same point of the season last year, when they were languishing in the relegation zone just marginally above the doomed bottom-placed Metz.

Pépé now has eight goals and seven assists in 2018/19 for Les Dogues and Lille have reportedly already knocked back a £26million bid from Ligue 1 rivals Olympique Lyonnais - City’s recent vanquishers in the Champions League - for the star.

If City however do manage to snatch the 23-year-old from under the noses of Manchester United, Pépé would inevitably find himself competing in a congested squad for a starting berth with such players as Raheem Sterling, Leroy Sane, Riya Mahrez, and Bernardo Silva.