Brad Friedel has drawn a sharp line between two USMNT strikers he believes can reach the Premier League, saying Folarin Balogun has the profile for one of the league’s “big boys” while Ricardo Pepi would be better suited to clubs a step below that level.
The former United States goalkeeper told GOAL he would not rule out either player in England next season, but he sees different ceilings for each. Friedel said Balogun could cope with the “perception and reality situation” that comes with a major club, while Pepi, in his view, would need a team such as Brentford, Bournemouth or Fulham to make the move work.
The timing matters because both players are being talked about with the 2026 World Cup finals in mind, and the Premier League remains the benchmark for how far their club careers can go. Friedel’s comments land in the middle of transfer speculation, with Balogun and Pepi both tied to possible moves in 2026-27 and the question of whether either could be in England as soon as next season.
Balogun’s case is the easier one to make. He came through Arsenal’s academy, made 10 competitive appearances for the club and scored two Europa League goals before Monaco paid €40 million for him in 2023 after a 22-goal loan spell at Reims. He then backed up that fee with a 19-goal campaign across all competitions in his most productive season at Monaco, giving Friedel reason to think he could handle the pressure of a top side.
Pepi has built his own case in a different way. He first arrived in Europe at Augsburg in January 2022, later moved on to PSV and helped them win another Eredivisie title while matching Balogun’s 19-goal return. Friedel still sees a clearer fit in a mid- to lower-tier Premier League setup, saying a switch to Manchester United or Arsenal would be “too much for him, too quick,” even if he also believes Pepi could succeed in England.
The contrast is not about whether either striker can score. Friedel said Pepi is very good in the box and strong in the air, but he also said Balogun would be his pick for Mauricio Pochettino’s team because the Argentina-born coach tends to favor players who are direct and dynamic. That leaves Balogun as the more obvious candidate for a marquee move, while Pepi looks more likely to be judged by fit than by fame.
For now, the biggest question is not which player has the cleaner résumé, but which club is willing to test Friedel’s view. If either striker lands in England next season, the first decision will say as much about the buying club as it does about the player.
