Feyenoord is making haste in the hunt for Ricardo Pepi. The team from Rotterdam would like to take over the striker from FC Augsburg and have submitted a first offer to the Bundesliga club, Fabrizio Romano knows. The amount of Feyenoord’s offer is not disclosed. Augsburg reportedly requires around sixteen million euros for Pepi, the same amount that the Germans paid to FC Dallas in January 2022.
Pepi was relegated to the Kitchen Champion Division with FC Groningen this season, but was one of the few bright spots in the Pride of the North. The United States international scored 13 goals and 3 assists in 31 official matches. PSV is also angling for Pepi’s services. The people of Eindhoven have a possible trump card with Earnest Stewart, as the technical director and the attacker both have American nationality.
Pepi came from FC Dallas to Augsburg for sixteen million euros last January, but was not yet able to impress the Germans. He was already described by German media as Mega Flop. In total, the American played sixteen times for the number fifteen of the Bundesliga. He failed to score in that. Augsburg is said to be willing to cooperate in a transfer of the striker, provided that the same amount is put on the table as was paid by the club to Dallas a year and a half ago.
Romano does not say a word about the amount of the opening bid, but knows that Feyenoord has made an initial offer. Santiago Giménez is about to leave for the brand new national champion. The Mexican is in the explicit interest of Benfica, which, like Feyenoord, won the title and thus also managed to qualify for the Champions League. Giménez is expected to be resold with a mega profit.
Pepi responded on Sunday ESPN on the rumors of a possible transfer. He rules out a longer stay at FC Groningen. “I don’t know yet what will happen next season,” said the centre-forward. “I want to finish the season first. In the coming weeks or months there will be more clarity. There are a lot of rumors. I think that’s good, but we also know that rumors are often wrong. I like the league and how here we work with young players, so I would like to stay in the Netherlands.”