According to The Pitch Prospect, Fulham have agreed in principle to a deal to sign striker Ricardo Pepi from PSV Eindhoven.
The Cottagers, whose move for Pepi fell through in January, are set to finally get a £31million move over the finish line.
3
The 23-year-old US international has scored 10 goals in 19 Eredivisie games for PSV so far this season.
He has also scored three goals in five Champions League games for the Dutch team and provided two assists in all competitions.
Pepi’s impressive form this season followed another strong season for the striker, which saw him score 18 goals in 29 games last year.
And he is someone who has been pursued by Fulham, whose attempt to bring him to Craven Cottage failed in January.
Marco Silva was hoping to add another striker to his squad and made an offer of £28 million for the American.
However, that was below PSV’s £30 million asking price at the time, although they initially wanted to sign a replacement.
PSV were unable to find a replacement in time on deadline day and Fulham saw their potential transfer fall through.
But just under two months after the window closed, the Cottagers have resumed talks and have now agreed a deal worth £31 million.
Raul Jimenez’s contract with the club expires this summer, meaning a new striker is needed.
Especially because backup striker Rodrigo Muniz has fallen out of favor this season after several injury problems.
3
Pepi’s career so far
Pepi has played for PSV for the last three years, having originally started his career in his native America.
The Texas-born star came through FC Dallas’ youth ranks before breaking into their first team in 2019.
He then scored 16 goals in 59 appearances for the MLS side and moved to North Texas SC on loan during his two-year spell.
Pepi then moved to Europe to sign for German club FC Augsburg, but he failed to score in any of his 16 games.
This led to a loan move to the Netherlands to FC Groningen, where he shone, scoring 16 goals for the club.
A permanent move to PSV followed in 2023, where he now plays a starring role up front and has an impressive tally of 39 goals and eight assists in 95 games in all competitions to date.
3
World Cup bound
Pepi hopes to play in the USA’s home World Cup this summer under coach Mauricio Pochettino.
Pochettino picked his squad for the country’s final friendlies before the tournament on Tuesday and also included the striker.
He has been selected in a group of strikers which also includes Leeds’ Brenden Aaronson, former Chelsea winger Christian Pulisic, former Arsenal player Folarin Balogun, Timothy Weah and Patrick Agyemang.
Pepi will also line up alongside Fulham’s Antonee Robinson, who is expected to be his teammate next season.
The U.S. plays Belgium and Portugal this month.
They will face the Belgians on March 28th and then Cristiano Ronaldo and Co. on March 31st.