Confirms the rumors: TUDN confirming via Ricardo Pepi: “All the teams that have come up as rumors in the press are real. They’ve all shown interest. Buts it’s only that, interest, for now.” https://t.co/MfgDIL8vgb pic.twitter.com/EsFgfFlPZ4— Nico Cantor (@Nicocantor1) October 5, 2021
During the trial he had in Munich, Coaches were impressed by his fluidity in the attack, his turns on the ball, and one coach said Ricardo reminded him of a young Edin Dzeko. Some within the Bayern youth system believed Pepi had what it takes to go pro 3 years ago [@TheAthletic]— Bayern & Germany (@iMiaSanMia) October 6, 2021
hopefully he goes for so much that dan hunt has no choice but invest in a fc dallas center of excellence or whatever in el paso
🚨 Sources tell me Ricardo Pepi's camp are in agreement on personal terms with Wolfsburg 🇩🇪 & are looking to close a deal with #DTID 🇺🇲 #USMNT Haven't been able to reach his agent to confirm yet— Chris Smith (@Chris_SXI) October 12, 2021
People on Twitter getting mad about this because Wolfsburg buried Kayo and Llanez. But no way they pay what it's going to take to get Pepi at this point if they don't plan to play him.
Yeah for sure Pepi plays at Wolfsburg, and its not the same situation as the other young Americans that were there. That being said...this is a big disappointment to me. When you are rumored for Ajax and Bayern and end up at Wolfsburg..sheesh
It all comes down to playing time. I'd rather that he get serious minutes on a Europa League challenger than ride the bench at Bayern (or get loaned out to St. Polten or wherever). I really, really do not put any stock in the philosophy that young players are better off on the fringes of a megaclub simply because they're "training with the best." Kids need game time.
Just as Wolfsburg wouldn't spend 20 mil on Pepi to have him ride the bench, its not likely Bayern would either. Certainly wouldn't be an immediate starter, but would have a ton of competitions to get good minutes. Worst case scenario he's loaned out, but it certainly wouldn't be to the likes of St. Polten. Either way, Bayern wouldn't be my top choice either. Think Ajax is the absolute ideal scenario for him at this point in his career. Moreso than any club in the world. This is just personal terms agreed, so nothing totally concrete yet in terms of a transfer. I'll be amongst those hoping it falls through.
Naw, its a good place. Champions league Bundesliga team, with little competition at the forward spot, play a good entertaining brand of attacking soccer, and fellow American and veteran John Brooks on the team. I like it.
I mean…… I don’t wanna prematurely pat myself on the back but my uneducated guess was probably spot on. It just makes too much sense.
Yeah, always important not to play the game of "what looks best on the eyes-emoji posts from random USMNT bots." Wolfsburg looks pretty solid from other perspectives -- should be in Euro competitions, not run by crazy people, etc.
https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/who-s-next-future-transfer-outlook-for-the-2021-mls-22-under-22-list In speaking with a number of scouts and GMs across the league, the general consensus is to assume that a base fee of at least $15 million (which would eclipse the base fee of Davies’ deal to Bayern) plus incentives and a sell-on percentage could do the trick.
Wolfsburg is also the last team to win the Bundesliga (2008-2009) not named Bayern or Borussia Dortmund. They had a legit squad that year with Edin Dzeko, Grafite, Andrea Barzagli among others. That was also the year that Landon did a short loan to Bayern if I remember correctly. I wouldn't be upset about the move. A lot less pressure at Wolfsburg compared to Ajax, Bayern, etc.
For the price he'd go to Ajax or BM he'd get game time. Those clubs don't spend $15+ million for guys they don't intend to play.
Everything YA and Wolfsburg related has pretty much been awful since Kamani Hill. I can't get too excited about any YA and Wolfsburg. Brooks has had a fine time there but eh... the stink from all the failures there is strong. I'd prefer he go to some of the other places rumored but I guess I'm a bit spoiled when I'm underwhelmed by a move like this.
That's roughly their usual max buy. Sometimes they go up into the $20M's for a player. https://www.transfermarkt.us/ajax-amsterdam/alletransfers/verein/610