Ricardo Pepi versus the Premier League | Peter Bosz in conversation with English media

He was allowed to start again from kickoff, knowing that full fitness was not a settled matter yet. And so, after the match between PSV and Fortuna Sittard, there was criticism directed at him from various PSV fans. After all, many PSV fans maintain that Pepi is not good enough as a footballer for PSV.

Is that assessment justified? No, not really. The American striker still remains extremely dangerous up front and in the attacking line, and his runs can still break open the defense of many an opponent. Fitness seems to be the recipe when we look at the eagerness of PSV’s first striker to make things happen. The American hasn’t always been lucky during his years at PSV when we look at his fitness and injuries.

Peter Bosz is pleased that for now he can call upon Ricardo Pepi. The American striker is still under contract in Eindhoven, while Premier League club Fulham FC has long had interest in him. His name is still being mentioned in west London, but that something has happened between Fulham and Pepi is a fact, because the contacts were not exactly warm to say the least in the summer of 2026.

The transfer of the PSV striker ultimately fell through, because the clubs could not agree on the timing of the transfer. "I was somewhat surprised that his transfer to Fulham last season did not work out," Bosz told the English outlet The Athletic in recent days. "So of course I’m happy that I have a real goalscorer in my team, because that’s who he is."

Last season, the American striker suffered from a number of injuries. "I hope he stays fit, and I’m sure he will stay fit, because normally he is never injured. But if he stays fit in the Netherlands, I’m very curious how many goals he will score, because he is a real goal scorer" is Bosz still rightly, and perhaps justifiably, full of praise for the American.

At the World Cup at home, Pepi received few minutes from national team coach Mauricio Pochettino. All in all, it was a big disappointment for the PSV striker, who is still number one in the attacking position. "Because Balogun played, and he also played after his red card, Pepi didn’t get much playing time, so people couldn’t see him play," says Bosz, who isn’t too upset about it. "But for us it was good," Peter Bosz says about the American striker, whose name is still making the rounds in English media.

Is another Premier League club moving for him in the final weeks of the summer transfer window, or will Pepi stay at PSV to move to a bigger club than Fulham as a top scorer in the summer of 2027?