Tottenham set to face stumbling block as Arsenal close in on £45m-rated target

Arsenal are set to beat Tottenham for the signing of Nicolas Pepe of Lille, according to L’Equipe (h/t Metro).

The report claims the Ligue 1 team are willing to sell their star player in the winter window with the likes of Barcelona and Chelsea also interested in the 23-year-old.

Pepe has 25 goals from just 54 Ligue 1 appearances and is valued at £45million (h/t Metro). The winger has been in great form for Lille this season with 12 goals and five assists from just 18 league games.

Tottenham didn’t make a move in the summer window and it will be interesting to track our activity once the January transfer window opens.

Mauricio Pochettino recently hinted that the club might not sign players and that could turn out to be a huge problem in the second half of the season.

Spurs have struggled to keep their players fit and it seems inevitable that a player will pick up an injury as soon as one is fit.

Right now, Jan Vertonghen is the latest casualty while Eric Dier is out for more than a month after undergoing an operation to remove his appendix.

Read more: Major blow for Pochettino as 21-year-old Tottenham target wants to remain with Ligue 1 giants till season end

Pepe could have been a great signing to bring from France, but it seems our North London rivals have a better chance of signing him.