Fulham have been urged to exercise caution as they step up their interest in PSV Eindhoven striker Ricardo Pepi. Former PSV striker Rene Viscal has warned that Pepi's transfer to the Premier League may not be straightforward.
Fulham have been tracking Pepi for several months as they look to strengthen their attack. Marco Silva's side were initially relegated in the summer, before reviving that interest in the January transfer window.
PSV rejected a late move from Fulham in January, but reports suggest discussions could resume ahead of a potential summer deal. In fact, A report earlier this week His transfer to Fulham was said to be 'likely'.
"A natural striker" - why Pepi appeals to Fulham
Viskal understands why Fulham are keen on the American forward. He was quick to highlight Pepi's greatest strength: his intuitive movement in the penalty area.
"It's very hard to train what Pepi does," he told Eindhoven's Dagblad.
"He has the gift that real strikers need. Getting into position perfectly in or around the penalty area is something you should have naturally."
Despite praising Pepi's qualities, Viscal believes Fulham should be cautious in assuming his Eredivisie form will translate seamlessly to England.
"The game is played very openly in the Netherlands and they can benefit from that," he said.
"In England, you have to deal with a completely different intensity, and the defenders are much stronger physically. It remains to be seen whether he can handle it."
Past struggles show why Fulham must manage expectations
According to Viskal, Pepi's difficult tenure with German club Augsburg should not be held against him. But he believes it underlines how challenging adaptation can be.
"You can't judge him based on his time at Augsburg," he said. “He was young, and he needed time to adapt to European football.”
He understands why Fulham remain keen and thinks the move could still be worthwhile if handled correctly. As far as he is concerned, such a deal only works if expectations are kept realistic.
“Fulham is not a club that plays at the absolute top level,” he said.
“That route is probably more logical than going for a very big name, where if you don't score a few times you are immediately questioned.”
Risk vs reward for Fulham
Ultimately, Ricardo Pepi represents both promise and risk for Fulham.
It is difficult to ignore his natural instincts in the box, but the step up to the Premier League remains challenging, especially for a striker who is still finding consistency after injuries and previous setbacks.
If Fulham go ahead with a summer move, patience and realistic expectations will be key, because while Pepi has the tools to succeed, England could prove to be his toughest test yet.
