Tottenham Hotspur are one of the clubs leading the race for Feyenoord’s Premier League-linked striker Santiago Gimenez, according to one of the Mexico international’s representatives.
Speaking to Tuttomercatoweb, Morris Pagniello – a FIFA intermediary speaking on behalf of one of Europe’s most in-form number nines – rattled off a wide-ranging list of clubs who have shown an interest in Santiago Gimenez in recent months.
In addition to Tottenham Hotspur – who’s interest was confirmed by Gimenez’s agent back in August – bonafide big-hitters in Spain and Italy are also hot on the striker’s heels.
And with good reason.
Gimenez helped fire Feyenoord to Eredivisie glory last season. With a remarkable 15 goals in his first 11 games of the new campaign, the former Cruz Azul ace has taken his game to a whole new level.
According to Pagniello, Gimenez’s price-tag has risen four-fold in the space of a year. Feyenoord now valuing the much-coveted poacher at a cool £40 million.
Tottenham Hotspur lead Santiago Gimenez race
“We have already discussed (Gimenez) with Atletico Madrid,” Pagniello explains. “We talked about him with Inter, Milan, Lazio and Napoli. But, for me, he could be perfect for both Inter and Juventus. They would be the best options for him.
“I’ve been telling him for more than a year. Various clubs to believe in him. His value went from £10 million to £40 million in just under 12 months.”
Pagniello may believe that Inter and Juventus are the ‘best options’ available to Gimenez, but they are not the clubs currently leading the chase. Those honours, instead, belong to the 14-time European champions and Ange Postecoglou’s Premier League leaders.
“Now the teams closest to him are Real Madrid and Tottenham,” Pagniello concludes.
Spurs ‘closest’ to Santiago Gimenez
Tottenham, exceptional under Postecoglou so far and unbeaten in nine league games, still feel like a top-class centre-forward away from becoming genuine challengers to Manchester City’s throne. Gimenez, then, could be a ‘final piece of the jigsaw’ sort of addition in the post-Harry Kane era.
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