Premier League Clubs Still Eye USMNT Star Ricardo Pepi After Fulham Bid Rejected

By: Shawn
‎Fulham recently submitted a $35 million (€30 million) offer to sign U.S. men’s national team forward Ricardo Pepi. PSV, however, turned down the bid, though multiple Premier League clubs continue to monitor the American striker. This comes even after Pepi sustained an arm injury, which has not deterred English clubs from pursuing him this January.
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‎Sources indicate that Fulham is just one of several Premier League sides actively interested in Pepi during the winter transfer window. The forward attracted similar attention last summer before a knee injury interrupted his progress.
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Ricardo Pepi remains a transfer target for Premier League teams despite a recent arm injury, with Fulham's $35M bid already rejected by PSV.
‎Getty Images Sport 
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‎Pepi is currently sidelined with a broken arm suffered in a recent PSV match against Excelsior, where he slid to score in a 5-1 victory. PSV confirmed that Pepi underwent surgery and is expected to miss around two months of action. Despite the injury keeping him out until March, clubs in England continue to track his situation closely. Reports indicate that interest remains strong, while Fulham’s initial $35 million bid was rejected by PSV.
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‎This isn’t Pepi’s first run-in with Premier League transfer speculation. Last January, the American striker was the subject of a $20.7 million (€20 million) bid from a top-flight English club. PSV’s unwillingness to sell and a prior knee injury ultimately scuppered the move. West Ham also saw a loan-to-buy approach rejected by PSV at the time.
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‎Pepi has enjoyed a promising career trajectory. After scoring 13 goals on loan at Groningen, he joined PSV in 2023 for $9.8 million. Initially a substitute, he scored nine goals in his first season before a knee injury interrupted his progress. In the latter months of 2024, he broke into PSV’s starting lineup, netting 17 goals in all competitions.
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‎This season, Pepi has regained form with 11 goals in 22 appearances, including eight goals in just 716 Eredivisie minutes and goals in the Champions League against Napoli, Olympiacos, and Atletico Madrid, all off the bench.
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‎While Pepi recovers, PSV will aim to maintain their dominant lead in the Eredivisie, currently 16 points clear. Pepi himself will be focused on returning in time for the USMNT camp scheduled in March.

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