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

Fulham are close to a £28.5 million move for PSV Eindhoven striker Ricardo Pepi.

BBC Sport reports that the USA international arrived in London on Wednesday for a medical at Craven Cottage, with final details still to be agreed. Fulham tried to sign the 23-year-old in January, but PSV kept him for the remainder of the season.

He is expected to sign a deal running to 2031, with Marco Silva seeking attacking reinforcements as Raul Jimenez nears the end of his contract.

Pepi has 34 caps for the USA and 13 goals in 29 club outings this season, including three in five Champions League matches. He is expected to feature prominently at this summer’s North American World Cup.

Earlier this year, Fulham and Sunderland were among admirers, alongside fellow Premier League sides Everton, Leeds United and West Ham.

Eindhovens Dagblad reports that PSV aimed to bank the fee early to fund reinforcements and plan the summer with clarity.

The Dutch outlet also suggests elements of his off-ball work no longer fit their long-term model, and that the player pushed for a London move once Fulham met their valuation.

Source: Sunderland Echo