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

Fulham are closing in on a £28.5 million move for PSV Eindhoven striker Ricardo Pepi.

According to BBC Sport, the 23-year-old has arrived in London and is set for a medical at Craven Cottage as final details are discussed. Fulham previously tried to sign him in January but PSV opted to keep him for the rest of the season.

He is expected to sign a contract running to 2031. Marco Silva’s side are seeking attacking reinforcements, with Raul Jimenez out of contract in the coming months after scoring twice against Sunderland this season.

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

Sunderland held interest in January, and the forward has also been linked with Everton, Leeds United and West Ham.

Eindhovens Dagblad reports four reasons behind PSV’s sale. They sought to bank funds early to reinforce, gain clarity for summer planning, felt aspects of Pepi’s off-ball work did not fit their long-term model, and the player pushed to move to London once Fulham met their valuation.

Source: Sunderland Echo