Fulham ‘to finalise’ £28.5m Ricardo Pepi deal after London arrival | OneFootball

Fulham are closing in on a £28.5 million move for PSV Eindhoven striker Ricardo Pepi, who has been linked with Sunderland.

According to BBC Sport, the 23-year-old arrived in London on Wednesday for a medical at Craven Cottage and to finalise the remaining details. Eindhovens Dagblad has also outlined PSV’s reasons for agreeing a sale, including an early cash-in and the player’s preference for London.

Fulham tried to sign Pepi in January but PSV chose to keep him until the end of the season. He is now expected to sign a contract running to 2031, with Marco Silva seeking attacking reinforcements as Raul Jimenez is out of contract in the coming months.

Pepi, a 34-cap USA international, has scored 13 goals in 29 club games this season, including three in five Champions League appearances. He is expected to feature prominently at this summer’s World Cup in North America.

Earlier this year he attracted interest from Fulham and Sunderland, as well as Everton, Leeds United and West Ham. It has been suggested the striker was open to a move to England.

PSV are said to want sale funds secured early to plan their summer business, while some elements of Pepi’s off-ball work are viewed as less aligned with their long-term model. With Fulham meeting their valuation and the forward pushing to move to London, the Dutch club were prepared to proceed.

Source: Sunderland Echo