The January transfer window offered admittedly few high profile moves, but there were certainly some significant deals that will have an impact this year and for those to come.
After all the drama provided by the Champions League in midweek, domestic action returned over the weekend, and it did not disappoint. Title races and battles to earn European spots are heating up around the continent, with there plenty of twists and turns still to come over the next three-and-a-half months.
Fulham’s ambitious deadline-beating swoop for Ricardo Pepi has collapsed in dramatic fashion after PSV pulled the plug on the €37 million deal. The USMNT striker was reportedly set for a Premier League switch, but the Dutch giants blocked the move on Monday morning after failing to secure a replacement in time, leaving the Cottagers empty-handed.
Harry Kane went from zero to hero as his late goal ensured Bayern Munich beat PSV Eindhoven 2-1 to end their Champions League league phase campaign on a high. Jamal Musiala gave the visitors the lead in a breathless game at Philips Stadion before Kane's sloppy pass led to Ismael Saibari's long-range stunner. But the England captain righted his previous wrong with the winner to dump 10-man PSV out of the competition.
The final round of league phase fixtures in the 2025-26 Champions League is finally upon us, and it promises to be the most dramatic yet. Only table toppers Arsenal and Bayern Munich have already secured automatic qualification for the round of 16, with the former boasting a 100 percent record through their first seven games, while just four clubs have been eliminated so far: Eintracht Frankfurt, Slavia Prague, Villarreal and Kairat.
USMNT star Ricardo Pepi has been told that a move to Fulham, allowing him to take on a Premier League challenge, could make perfect sense. The 23-year-old striker has endured unfortunate timing on the injury front at PSV, but Brad Friedel has told GOAL why he should be keeping the door open when it comes to reported interest in his services from Craven Cottage.
U.S. men's national team striker Ricardo Pepi suffered a broken arm in his first game back for PSV after the Eredivisie's winter break. The injury came as Pepi scored a goal, extending a recent hot streak that will now be put on hold with the striker eyeing a two-month absence.
Fulham have seen an initial $33 million (£26 million) bid for United States international striker Ricardo Pepi rejected by PSV Eindhoven, according to The Athletic. The Premier League club is expected to return with an improved offer as it looks to bolster its attack during the January transfer window, though competition remains for the 22-year-old’s signature.
It's that time of year where leagues around Europe begin to wind down for their winter breaks. Some countries allow their top-flight teams an extended period off around Christmas, while others will only be missing from the schedules for a week or so. All the while, the Premier League will continue throughout the festive period as the title race continues to hot up.
GOAL reviews the major takeaways from Americans playing in Europe, headlined by a goals from two strikers and an assist from a player fighting for a role next summer
Mauricio Pochettino faces plenty of selection posers ahead of the 2026 World Cup, with the USMNT looking to piece together a squad that can be competitive on the grandest of stages. They will need plenty of firepower in order to make that possible, with Brad Friedel discussing a striker pool that includes Folarin Balogun, Haji Wright, Ricardo Pepi and Josh Sargent during an exclusive interview with GOAL.
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