Contrary to earlier reports circulating last week, PSV has clarified that Spartak Moscow’s 23-year-old striker Manfred Ugalde was never a transfer target for the reigning champions.
This clarification comes amid developments concerning Ricardo Pepi’s potential departure. A €36 million transfer agreement for Pepi to Fulham reportedly fell through because the London club was unwilling to assume responsibility for any potential injuries the American striker might sustain in the coming months. The deal ultimately collapsed over this issue, dashing Pepi’s dream move to the Premier League.
Despite this setback, it remains highly probable that the striker will make a move this summer. Consequently, PSV is actively scouting potential replacements. While previous reports suggested Ugalde as a candidate, PSV explicitly denies this, stating: “Ugalde was never an option as a potential successor.”
Instead, PSV is reportedly considering Mika Biereth from AS Monaco and Álvaro Rodríguez from Elche. Biereth, 23, is contracted with Monaco until mid-2030 and has an estimated market value of €22 million. Rodríguez, 21, is tied to Elche until summer 2029 and is valued at approximately €5 million.
