GOAL examines possible landing spots for Pepi, as the USMNT striker has been subject to Premier League, Ligue 1 interest
Ricardo Pepi might be on the move. Sources close to the player confirmed to GOAL last week that the USMNT striker is the subject of concrete interest from other clubs – with at least one team bidding in excess of $20 million to secure his services. Other offers, reportedly from both France and England, are likely to come.
And that's where this all gets interesting. Pepi has excelled for PSV this season, scoring 12 and assisting three in just five starts. He is averaging 1.68 goal contributions per 90 minutes. Those are the elite numbers of a ruthlessly efficient center forward. In other words, any club would be delighted to have him. But where, exactly, would he fit?
It's important to identify some criteria. Pepi will want to go somewhere that offers a higher level of competition than the Eredivisie. He will also likely want consistent minutes, as well as a path to first team football. It is also, of course, in his interest to avoid a club that might be fighting relegation. A team that plays good football that will afford him goalscoring opportunities would also be ideal.
With all that in mind, GOAL examines the best landsping spots for Pepi should he make a marquee move away from PSV.
Getty Images SportTottenham
"That's just the way we play, mate."
This one all depends on what Pepi, the talented No. 9, really needs long term. Ange Postecoglou plays an exciting brand of soccer that will lead to lots of chances for his forward players. The presence of talented wingers in Son Heung-min and Dejan Kulusevski ensures that a mobile center forward – usually Domonic Solanke – will get his fair share of looks on goal.
There's also a real variation to the system, with Spurs able to play both aerially and on the deck. Get yourself a No. 9 who can do a bit of everything, and Spurs seems to be the perfect match. Postecoglou has also been open about the fact he wants to strengthen his squad this month. Meanwhile, the fact that Spurs have European football to contend with should lead to plenty of chances for backups. Throw in the harsh reality of Timo Werner serving as your second choice goalscorer, and this all seems like a tailor-made fit.
The issue remains, of course, that Spurs spent big on Solanke this summer. And there is no obvious path to immediate first team football here.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportBrighton
If the goal is player development, Pepi needs to look no further. What is so often forgotten in football is that most players tend to need three or four stops to reach their potential. Brighton is, for many, the perfect stepping stone club. The same might just be true for Pepi.
The Seagulls are in something of an awkward spot in terms of their striking options. Yes, they have Danny Welbeck, who has bagged six goals in 14 Premier League appearances. But the former Arsenal and United striker is also 34, and is in the final year of his contract. Brighton would be reluctant to let a guy who can still bag a few goals leave on a free; it would make sense to hand him a new deal.
But that would do little in terms of preparing for the future. There are other options on the squad. Joao Pedro, Evan Ferguson and Georginio Rutter are all here. But there is talk of the injury-prone Ferguson leaving in January. Pedro, meanwhile, isn't a pure goalscorer.
But that would do little in terms of preparing for the future. Put simply: Brighton could use a striker – ideally young, powerful and a solid finisher. It's also fair to assume that they wouldn't be averse to having an American who could sell a few shirts to foreign fans, too.
AFPLille
Fancy another CONCACAF forward, guys? Canadian striker Jonathan David has turned in an excellent season for the Ligue 1 outsiders so far, scoring 14 and assisting two in all competitions. It's a perfect system for him – David serving as a direct presence, the razor-sharp edge of a 4-2-3-1 system. But Lille are also in a precarious spot. David is 24, and given his current form, will likely leave next summer – with Arsenal rumored to be in the running to secure his services.
That would seem to leave room for shrewd investment now. Pepi could be an ideal replacement. He isn't the same athlete as David, but he is a more physical presence, and can certainly make all of the right runs for Bruno Genesio's side. David has also remained remarkably injury free – missing just 13 games since the 2020-21 season. He needs a rest.
The issue is one of money. Lille might certainly be outbid by any Premier League suitor. But they would be an ideal destination.
Getty ImagesChelsea
So this one might just make sense. The Chelsea striker situation is strange. First, the tactics. They play with Nico Jackson as a traditional No. 9, with wingers on either side and the excellent Cole Palmer as an attacking midfielder. But Jackson has never truly convinced for the Blues. Nine Premier League goals is a handsome return, but he isn't exactly lethal, either. He still looks young and wayward. It is easy to forget that he wasn't a natural striker when Chelsea signed him. At times, it really shows.
Behind him in the depth chart things get complicated. Christopher Nkunku is there, but is perhaps best used as a No. 10 in Enzo Marseca's fluid system. And although former Barcelona youngster Marc Guiu has impressed in flashes, there remains a need for a proper striker to fill out the squad that Maresca has steadily curated over the course of the last six months.
Pepi could be that man. He will not push Jackson for starters minutes immediately, but might certainly be able to provide off the bench. He would also help out in cup competitions – even if that means settling for starts in the faraway countries brought about by the UEFA Conference League. At 21, Pepi is at the right age that Chelsea have been after in recent years.
And most simply of all, it's easy to imagine Todd Boehly taking a punt on another marketable American talent.
