Fulham ‘to sign’ Ricardo Pepi in £28.5m deal | OneFootball

Fulham are closing in on a £28.5m deal for PSV Eindhoven striker Ricardo Pepi, who was linked with Sunderland in January.

BBC Sport reports that the 23-year-old arrived in London on Wednesday for a medical at Craven Cottage and to finalise the move. Fulham tried to land him in January but PSV kept him for the rest of the season.

Pepi is expected to sign a contract running to 2031. Marco Silva is seeking attacking cover, with Raul Jimenez out of contract in the coming months after scoring twice against Sunderland this season.

A 34-cap USA international, Pepi has scored 13 goals in 29 club appearances this term, including three in five in the Champions League. He is also expected to feature for the USA at this summer’s North American World Cup.

Earlier this year Fulham and Sunderland were among the clubs credited with interest, alongside Everton, Leeds United and West Ham. Eindhovens Dagblad reports that PSV aimed to bank funds early and plan the summer, had tactical reservations over Pepi’s off-ball fit, and that the player pushed for a London move once Fulham met their valuation.

Source: Sunderland Echo