According to Calciomercato, Everton are interested in Pepe and may have to battle Wolverhampton Wanderers and West Ham United to procure his signature. The 23-year-old has impressed for Gremio in the last 12 months, but little is known about him outside of Brazil. So, who is Pepe?
Hit form in 2019
Pepe has made 72 appearances in all competitions since joining Gremio from Foz do Iguaçu in 2016, scoring 15 goals with 6 assists. His best season to date was in 2019 where he had a hand in 11 goals in 33 Serie A games. As per WhoScored, Pepe created 18 chances, won 21/46 aerial duels, made 43/77 successful dribbles, had 46 shots with 34.8% hitting the target, won 34 free-kicks, made 10 interceptions and made 24 tackles.
The 23-year-old is picking up where he left off in 2020 too. Pepe has scored two goals and made one assist in five Serie A starts this season. He’s created 11 chances, made 22/37 successful dribbles, had 15 shots with 46% hitting the target, won 14 free-kicks and averaged a tackle (5) or interception (4) every 55 minutes. Pepe looks on course for his best season yet in Brazil and he might be coming to Europe off the back of it.
How much would he cost?
Transfermarkt estimate Pepe’s market value is £8.1m, but Calciomercato say Grêmio are looking for €20m-€25m (£18.5m-£23.2m). He won’t break the bank, but any potential approach on our end may depend on selling one or two existing players.
As things stand, Carlo Ancelotti has Alex Iwobi, Richarlison, Theo Walcott and Bernard who can operate out wide, but Iwobi struggled for consistency in his debut season, Walcott underperformed and has been transfer-listed and Bernard could also be sold this summer.
Calciomercato say Gremio are reticent to sell Pepe as he’s meant to be Everton Cebolinha Soares’ successor after the 24-year-old was sold to Benfica, so we may have a battle to lure him away from the Arena do Grêmio.
Not only could Gremio push back any approach this summer, Wolves and West Ham’s interest may through a spanner in the works of our alleged pursuit too.
Time will tell if we’re successful.
In other news, we’ve been dealt a transfer blow in pursuit of Branislav Ivanovic