Everton: Lampard 'might look' at signing £140k-a-week Premier League star

Everton manager Frank Lampard might look at a deal for Nicolas Pepe if he’s available to sign on loan, according to journalist Pete O’Rourke.

The Toffees boss has made just one summer signing in James Tarkowski and is desperate to make some attacking additions following the recent departure of Richarlison.

According to reports in Spain, Everton want to sign the £22.5m-rated Arsenal flop, who also has interest from Premier League rivals West Ham and Leicester, while Sevilla are also in the race.

The winger made the switch to England from Lille for a club record fee back in 2019, but Pepe has failed to live up to expectations at the Emirates.

In three seasons in the top-flight, the Ivorian has scored just 16 goals and laid on nine assists, with his lack of consistency leading him to struggle to start regularly.

Last term, Pepe was picked from the off on just five occasions and wasn’t selected by Mikel Arteta to start a league game after October.

As a result, the £140,000 per-week star wants a move away from north London, and O’Rourke reckons that his services would appeal to Lampard, who’s yet to secure any attacking incomings.

He told GIVEMESPORT: “They may get a real bargain now, whether it’s on loan or not, but I think Everton are in the market for attacking reinforcements.

“They need to replace Richarlison and if Nicolas Pepe is available on loan then it’s something Frank Lampard might look at.”

Arteta’s side ended up finishing just a couple of points outside of the Champions League places, which represented a campaign of progression for the Gunners.

However, for Pepe, it was a miserable season on a personal level.

In the Carabao Cup, the attacker scored two goals and assisted four in just three appearances, but he