FC Groningen have announced the signing USA international Ricardo Pepi on loan just six months after Liverpool missed out on the teenage striker to Bundesliga side Augsburg.
The Dutch side posted on their official Twitter account that they have signed Pepi on loan for the season despite the attacker moving to Germany in the January transfer window, with Augsburg beating the likes of Liverpool to the forward’s signature in a deal worth a reported $20m (£17m).
Liverpool were just one of many reported sides chasing Pepi in the winter, with the likes of Manchester United and Southampton also linked with the FC Dallas academy graduate, yet since moving to Europe, the American wonderkid has struggled big time to adapt.
The 19-year-old is yet to score or assist in 16 appearances for Augsburg, yet this loan move to Groningen in the Netherlands could be the perfect transfer for Pepi, who is yet to play his best football since leaving for the continent in January and snubbing the likes of Liverpool.
Groningen have made a great move signing Pepi on loan
Any player making the move from MLS to Europe will need a period of time to adapt to a new style of football, with the likes of Miguel Almiron and Brenden Aaronson experiencing similar struggles to Pepi, and the forward signing for Groningen could be exactly what the striker needs to kick on after leaving Dallas.
Indeed, Groningen have played host to some of the best strikers in Europe over the past few years, namely Liverpool icon and FC Barcelona legend Luis Suarez, and whilst it would be a reach to say Pepi will hit the same heights as the Uruguayan, there’s a good case to be made that the teenager could develop just as well for the Dutch club in the coming months.
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