Everton could now sign £35m striker on the cheap after failed transfer gamble

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Everton’s summer of spending finally looks as if it is taking off after reaching an agreement for Hayden Hackney.

It has taken Everton a couple of weeks to get going, but Angus Kinnear and the recruitment team cannot take their foot off the pedal now.

After weeks of negotiations, Everton will pay £16.5m for Hackney, with focus now turning elsewhere as David Moyes requires numerous other additions.

If you were Angus Kinnear who would you be going all out for this summer? 💰

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Everton are keen to add another striker to their squad this summer following turbulent campaigns for Beto and Thierno Barry.

One player who has been on Everton’s radar is Ricardo Pepi and the 23-year-old could now become available at a cut price.

What is the latest on Ricardo Pepi to Everton?

Pepi is a striker who Everton have been keeping tabs on for a number of months now, but he is a player in demand.

Fulham also hold an interest in Pepi and have come close to signing him in recent months.

It has now been suggested by Spanish outlet Diario AS that PSV Eindhoven actively want to sell Pepi after the conclusion of the World Cup.

Which Everton player are you expecting to have the best World Cup? 🏆

Every Everton player at the World Cup and when you can watch them in action

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The 23-year-old remains of interest to Fulham among other clubs, but Everton could strike themselves a bargain this summer after recent developments.

How the World Cup could help Everton strike Ricardo Pepi bargain

PSV refused to sell Pepi in January as the Dutch outfit believed the World Cup would act as a real boost for them to demand a higher price for their striker.

The reality is that has not happened as Pepi has endured a tricky call-up to Mauricio Pochettino’s United States side.

For PSV, Pepi enjoyed a seriously impressive 2025/26 campaign across all competitions as he returned 19 goals.

Everton feared Pepi’s valuation sky-rocketing following the World Cup, but the opposite may actually have happened.

Pochettino’s USMNT play their Round of 32 game against Bosnia and Herzegovina in the early hours of Thursday morning (BST), but Pepi may not even start.

Although the 23-year-old did start the second and third group stage games against Australia and Turkey, he has failed to capitalise on his opportunities.

The forward played at left-wing against Australia and then as the striker against Turkey, but he has failed to return a goal contribution for this free-scoring US side.

Any hope from PSV of this summer’s World Cup boosting Pepi’s valuation is now relying on the forward to pull something out of the bag in the knockout stages.

Although Everton may now feel they could strike themselves a bargain, there may also be some questions being asked about Pepi’s ability to perform at the very top level.

The 23-year-old did score against Atletico Madrid and Napoli last season in the Champions League, but he is not performing at the World Cup.

PSV valued Pepi at £35m in the winter market, which is more than they paid for both Beto and Barry.

With funds not there to be wasted at Everton this summer, Pepi’s failure to make a statement at the World Cup could damage his hopes of a move away in the coming months.