Liverpool are said to be furious over persistent reports linking them with Lille winger Nicolas Pepe.

A French journalist claimed on Tuesday that the Reds were in 'very concrete discussions' to sign the Ivory Coast international.

RMC Sport's Mohamed Bouhafsi told Get French Football News: "This is an €80m situation. So it is a situation that needs time and calm," he said.

"What I can say is that there are very concrete discussions with Liverpool. Discussions that are not even denied by Lille, at Lille they don't deny the very concrete interest and discussions from and with Liverpool."

According to the Liverpool Echo, these claims are "pure lies" and Liverpool are not happy about it.

The Champions League are furious because they believe their name is being used as a tool to drive Pepe's price up.