Lille boss Christophe Galtier has admitted it will be hard for his club to retain the services of in-form attacker Nicolas Pepe, a reported Barcelona target.
Ivorian winger Pepe has an impressive 16 goals and eight assists in Ligue 1 this season, having also found the back of the net 14 times last season.
“We hope that we can finish second this season and Nicolas stays here on our adventure in the Champions League,” Galtier is cited as saying by Diario Sport.
“But we know it will be very tough to keep a player for whom many top European sides are interested in, of course he is fantastic.
“Look at Blaise Matuidi and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang at Saint-Etienne, it is very tough to maintain these stars.”
The 23-year-old has also been linked with a number of English Premier League clubs including Arsenal, Tottenham and Wolves.
