PSV coach Peter Bosz is surprised that United States international Ricardo Pepi has not moved elsewhere, but he is happy to keep someone he regards as a “real goalscorer”.
Pepi has been strongly linked with Fulham for months, and he appeared to be on the verge of joining the Premier League club on two occasions.
A move to Craven Cottage collapsed in January, and it was a similar story when Fulham renewed their interest in the 23-year-old earlier this summer.
Fulham have since turned their attention to other targets, bringing in Real Madrid youngster Gonzalo Garcia in a €40m (£34m) deal, and Pepi is yet to attract other bids.
He scored 19 goals in all competitions last season as PSV won their third straight Eredivisie title.
That return came despite 16 of his 34 appearances coming off the bench, and it was a similar story in 2024-25 as he played 28 games, 20 of them as a substitute, and scored 17 goals.
Overall, Pepi has 45 goals in 102 outings for the Eindhoven club, finding the net once every 76 minutes on average.
PSV face Fortuna Sittard in their opening 2026-27 Eredivisie fixture on Saturday, having been thrashed 4-0 by AZ Alkmaar in the Johan Cruyff Shield last weekend, with Pepi not involved.
“I was a bit surprised that his transfer last season, to Fulham, didn’t work out,” Bosz told The Athletic on Friday,
“Obviously, I’m happy to have a real goalscorer in my team, because that’s what he is.
“I hope he will stay fit, and I’m sure he will stay fit, because normally he’s never injured.
“If he stays fit, I’m really curious how many goals he will score, because he is a real goalscorer.”
Bosz also believes Pepi’s lack of gametime at the World Cup may have worked in PSV’s favour by warding off potential suitors.
He only started two of the USA’s five games as they reached the round of 16 on home soil, eventually being routed 4-1 by Belgium.
It looked as though he might get an opportunity in that game following Folarin Balogun’s red card against Bosnia-Herzegovina, but that punishment was controversially rescinded after US president Donald Trump lobbied FIFA boss Gianni Infantino.
“Because Balogun was playing, and also after the red card he was playing, Pepi didn’t have minutes, so people couldn’t see him,” Bosz said. “But for us, it was good.”
Fulham, Pepi’s former suitors, lost 2-1 to fellow Premier League side Crystal Palace in a behind-closed-doors friendly on Friday, with Ismaila Sarr and Matheus Franca netting for the Eagles after Antonee Robinson – Pepi’s USA team-mate – opened the scoring.
