Lille president confirms Nicolas Pepe's departure is almost finalised

Lille president Gerard Lopez has acknowledged that Nicolas Pepe will be heading through the exit door amid interest from the likes of Manchester United and Liverpool.

The Ivorian had a top campaign with the French outfit last term and his tally of 22 goals and 11 assists helped his team qualify for next season's Champions League.

Lopez had recently suggested that the future of Pepe would be sorted following the African Cup of Nations and he has now updated that the winger is seemingly on the cusp of an exit.

"For Nico, it is almost done and he could have left last summer. It is true that there are big offers and big clubs in for him, so I think [he will leave]," he told La Voix du Nord.

Manchester United have recently made an approach for the Ivory Coast international but it is unknown whether they have managed to negotiate a deal for the right-sided attacker.

Lille are expected to demand around £70m for the 24-year-old.