Fabrizio Romano certainly caught everyone napping when he released news that West Ham have made a bid for USA striker Ricardo Pepi.
The Italian transfer ITK posted the update on his social media just before midnight, causing something of a stir.
22-year-old striker Pepi scored the winner for PSV Eindhoven against Liverpool last night, which was his second Champions League goal of the season.
However, it is his prowess in scoring from the bench that has really caught attention this season, with the striker second in the Eredivisie scoring charts despite starting only five games.
Romano wrote that the Hammers had a €25m bid rejected, and it’s uncertain whether we’ll go back in. There is a possibility that the whole thing is a smokescreen to place Brighton under more pressure to sell Evan Ferguson.
That said, Pepi does look to be the real deal, with excellent finishing, heading ability, and enough pace to run in behind defences. At 6ft 1in, he certainly has the physical presence West Ham and Graham Potter seem to be looking for, and he appears to be relatively injury-free, which is a novelty in itself.
C&H have approached the club for comment to test the validity of the claim, and we’ll get back to you as soon as we know
Pepe has a knee injury so good luck with the medical.
The question remains why lowball there are so many chairmen around the World that don’t like the way Sullivan operates, it is annoying and instead of starting a conversation it puts us on the back foot from a negotiating stance. People can say what they want about Steidten though none can argue he got deals done and if we were in for targets 9 times out of 10 we got them. We could do with Steidten now with this deal, Potter teams usually have higher xg than goals scored this kid has higher xg than chances created. Whether he has the physicality for the PL is a slight question mark but he is certainly clinical and highly technical if you look at his pass rate % it’s 83 which for a striker is exceptional. If we are going to bid high for a striker he looks a good bet, he’s also American so English won’t be a problem and has already played in Germany and Holland which will hopefully show he is adaptable furthermore he is their second choice striker so should be willing to move to be first choice.
Higher goals scored than xg should have said
It’s frankly ridiculous that completely new names are coming up at this point in the window and then we move on to new targets. We should signed someone as soon as Antonio was injured. We didn’t so as soon as Potter arrived it should have been addressed, but no in typical Sullivan style we target a player, he agrees terms (effectively calling Sullivan’s bluff) and suddenly we aren’t it sure they are good enough for the Premier League. This pattern continues for rest of the window and once it’s closed we will hear the usual ‘we tried, but…..’ along with ‘it’s Tim’s fault we never signed anyone’
I actually welcome new names MB. The constant obsession on just signing Ferguson, Silva or Bobbey despite their poor injury and goalscoring record was worrying. Hopefully this is a positive sign that Kyle MacAulay has come in with improved targets. Although sods law Pepi is also now injured.
As soon as he was injured? You mean outside the transfer window?
Hes not a secret striker now then is he ??
I don’t know the player but not appearing to be a sick note is one up on most of what we’ve been looking at. I’ve just checked his record at Groningen and PSV and it doesn’t look too bad. 22 is a good age.
It looks like he would be a target without obvious drawbacks so with some prospect of being a success.
Typical of our luck at the moment John, unfortunately reports that Pepi suffered a serious knee injury in last night’s game. This has yet to be confirmed by his club.
Our “secret striker’s” no secret anymore
Let’s hope he’s not a “Calamity” !
Can’t we just make a decision , we have signed no one this late in the window !
Duran moves for an initial £65m after we supposedly went to £59m. So for the sake of £6m we lose a 20 year old striker who WAS willing to join us. We are a joke. He’d have stayed a year and returned a tidy profit.
The fact that Villa and a good chunk of their fans are happy to cash in on Duran tells a story. A bullet dodged.
Hes stated he dosnt want to come to us So end of story
How many names have looked the real deal.
Unfortunately list is gradually being eradicated with no sign of Potters need for reinforcements.
In next 6 months any injuries will cause major problems.
Moyes did same last year and what a disaster that was, another nail in his coffin.
Sully’s fist clutched tight with £££’s not being released.
What was the point in signing 17 year old Scottish lad when there’s no room for Luis Guilherme?