Fulham’s longstanding interest in Ricardo Pepi appears to be at an end, with neither side now keen on the idea.
Eindhovens Dagblad, via Voetbal Primeur, report that the American’s future may lie elsewhere than Craven Cottage.
Fulham transfer efforts
The newspaper explains that while Ricardo Pepi’s future at PSV Eindhoven remains in the balance, a move to Fulham may now be off the cards entirely.
Fulham initially tried to sign him in the January transfer window, before PSV eventually blocked that idea.
Marco Silva’s side returned after that, negotiating a deal with PSV Eindhoven for the striker to join in the summer transfer window instead.
That deal progressed to the point that Pepi even travelled to London to meet with Fulham and undergo a medical.
But it eventually collapsed, with Fulham and PSV unable to agree on the timing of the summer transfer and when the Premier League side would officially take over the 23-year-old’s right. The whole affair reportedly left the striker feeling extremely disappointed with Fulham.
Fulham go elsewhere
The idea of the move being revived in the summer has been floated ever since. But Eindhovens Dagblad report that’s not on the cards.
“Fulham does not seem to be returning for Pepi. And it is questionable whether the American still wants to go there,” the newspaper is quoted as saying.
“He was disappointed last winter with the way the British handled his planned transfer.”
A move to Fulham at this point may not be the smart one to make either. With Marco Silva seemingly on his way to Benfica, the club could be very different from the one that previously tried to sign Ricardo Pepi.
A new manager will bring new ideas and a new plan. That might be very different from the one the Portuguese manager had lined up if Pepi had joined this summer.
