Ricardo Pepi agrees contract after £21m West Ham bid – Sky Sports
Ricardo Pepi has put pen to paper on a contract extension at PSV Eindhoven after West Ham submitted a bid for the player, according to Sky Sports.
The broadcaster reported via its live blog [2 February] that the 22-year-old USA international has signed a deal which will see him stay in the Eredivisie until 2030 after the Hammers saw a £21million bid rejected this week.
It is understood, as per Fabrizio Romano, that the initial proposal would have seen the striker arrive at the London Stadium on a loan, with an obligation to buy, but it was quickly turned down.
West Ham miss out on Ricardo Pepi transfer as new contract signed
With the 22-year-old now sidelined until mid-March, supporters at the London Stadium will likely be relieved that their £21million offer for the striker was not accepted.
However, if the Irons are ever to go back in for the talented forward, it might cost them a lot more now after Pepi pledged his future at PSV until 2030.
With 11 goals in 18 league appearances this term, adding to his 26 goals in 68 appearances during his time at PSV, and is already a regular at international level with Mauricio Pochettino’s USA.
He has 13 goals in 33 caps for his national team but the Hammers will have to continue admiring from afar after the striker put pen to paper on a new deal at his current club.
It would have been a major blow for the Londoners had they not agreed a six-month loan deal for Brighton’s Evan Ferguson [Fabrizio Romano], who is already proven in the Premier League.
Graham Potter will have been crying out for a new centre-forward ever since being appointed as Julen Lopetegui’s successor, and working with his former player will be a huge boost for the new boss.
In other West Ham news, the Hammers are now in advanced talks to complete a pre-contract signing.
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