Reuter says Augsburg intend to keep Pepi
In an interview with the local "Augsburg Allgemeine Zeitung", FCA sporting director Stefan Reuter made a surprising statement regarding loaned out striker Ricardo Pepi.
The fact that FC Augsburg plan to exercise their purchase option on Fenerbahçe loanee Mërgim Berisha is not a secret. After having publicly confirmed that the club would pull the trigger on a permanent purchase some weeks back, Reuter again emphasized that he and his team would do so "in due time" in an interview with the "Augsburger Allgemeine Zeitung." Recently called up to the senior national team for the first time, Berisha is reported to have a purchase clause of just €4 million.
Having onto Berisha constitutes something of a "no brainer". The same presumably applies to the case of loaned out American striker Ricardo Pepi. Augsburg have a wonderful opportunity to "flip" a one-time €16 million purchase for a handsome profit. The American's current loan club of FC Groningen are interested in buying Pepi, as are reportedly several other clubs in the Erdevisie and elsewhere in Europe.
Surprisingly enough, Reuter downplayed the idea of a sale.
"We are planning firmly with him and have no intention of giving him away," Reuter said, "[Head-coach] Enrico Maaßen rates him very highly."