Fulham ‘close in on’ £28.5m deal for Sunderland-linked Ricardo Pepi | OneFootball

Fulham are closing in on a £28.5 million move for PSV Eindhoven striker Ricardo Pepi, with a medical planned at Craven Cottage after he arrived in London on Wednesday to finalise details, according to BBC Sport.

The Black Cats held January interest that came to nothing, and Fulham also tried then but PSV chose to keep the 23-year-old for the rest of the season.

Pepi is now expected to sign a contract running to 2031 as Marco Silva seeks to bolster his attack. Raul Jimenez, who scored twice against Sunderland this season, is out of contract in the coming months.

A 34-cap USA international, Pepi has 13 goals in 29 club outings this term, including three in five Champions League matches. He has been tipped to feature prominently at this summer’s World Cup in North America. Earlier this year, Fulham and Sunderland were credited with admiration alongside Everton, Leeds United and West Ham.

Eindhovens Dagblad reports that PSV moved to sell now to bank funds early and plan the summer with clarity. It also says the club felt elements of Pepi’s off-the-ball work no longer fit their long-term model, and that the player pushed for a London move, with Fulham meeting their valuation.

Source: Sunderland Echo