As fans will be aware, Fulham have made an attempt to sign PSV Eindhoven’s Ricardo Pepi in the winter market.
On New Year’s Eve, Eindhovens Dagblad reported Marco Silva’s side would return after PSV rejected their initial bid of around €30-35m.
Last week, PSV technical director Earnest Stewart confirmed he’d rejected a Fulham bid for the striker.
He didn’t mention a figure but insisted the London club would have to pay much more for him to consider a sale. Two days later, journalist Mounir Boualin stated PSV want €45m for the attacker.
Marcel Brands, the Dutch club’s general manager and the guy really in charge, has been a guest on ESPN’s Goedemorgen Eredivisie. He talked about Fulham’s offer and Voetbal Primeur have relayed his comments.
ESPN NL analyst Hans Kraay Jr. specifically asked Brands whether the Premier League side have offered €30m for Pepi.
Responding to that, he said: “No, €25m.”
“Earnest will be in touch with me, but we don’t have to think about that. We don’t want to sell anyone in the winter. There’s no financial need for it, and we want to become champions. That’s the most important thing.”
Fulham transfer likely on hold until summer
Marcel Brands sent a message to the English club on what they need to do to sign the 23-year-old American in January.
Brands explained: “We’re thinking: if there are bids in the winter, it’s a no. Unless something really exorbitant comes along that you have to discuss and think about. Even then, it will depend on whether you can find a replacement, but in principle, it’s a no.”
Neither Brands nor Stewards [last week] have mentioned their actual request for Pepi. Earlier claims have cited €45m as his price.
On Saturday, the American scored his 11th goal of the season in PSV’s 5-1 win over Excelsior Rotterdam. Three minutes after scoring, Pepi was forced off the pitch due to an injury.
According to ED, Pepi underwent surgery on Sunday and will be out for seven weeks. This is a blow Silva and Fulham in their efforts to sign him in January, and the move will likely be paused until summer.
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