Fulham’s £32m move for PSV Eindhoven star collapses despite striker agreeing five-year deal and travelling for medical

PSV Eindhoven technical director Ernest Stewart has confirmed the proposed £32million sale of Ricardo Pepi to Fulham has fallen through because the clubs could not agree over when ‘responsibility for the player would be transferred’.

Pepi travelled to London last Thursday for a medical after the clubs agreed a fee in principle for the striker’s transfer in the summer.

The USA international then returned to PSV to face Telstar at the weekend and finish the season there.

However, the clubs could not agree on the finer details which encompassed what would happen if the player got injured.

Speaking to ESPN Netherlands, Stewart said: ‘We were, of course, already in talks with Fulham during the winter break when they came just before the transfer window closed.

‘We couldn’t bring in a replacement anymore, so at that moment, the transfer couldn’t go through. But a week later we got back in talks and the process got underway.

‘That responsibility for the player was a very important detail that always played a role. And while we did get a bit closer to each other in that regard, ultimately, we remained too far apart.

‘Ricardo really wanted this. It is an unpleasant situation, especially for Ricardo. We are, of course, happy that we are retaining a good striker.’

Fulham retain an interest and are likely to revisit the deal in the summer prior to Pepi linking up with the USA squad for the World Cup.

Everton and West Ham have also shown interest in the 23-year-old.