VVV-Venlo could accept a bid of just £5 million for Eredivisie goal-machine Giorgos Giakoumakis with Southampton and Norwich City interested, as reported by Voetbal International.
With 25 goals in 29 games – seven clear of his closest challenger Donyell Malen – the Greek striker is set to end the season with a strange achievement to his name.
It’s not often a relegated player has the Golden Boot award glittering on his mantelpiece after all.
During his debut season in Dutch football, Giakoumakis has scored more goals (28 in all competitions) than he has in the rest of his career combined.
And VVV are under no illusions that, even if they do survive the drop, keeping hold of their unexpected talisman is likely to prove beyond them.
In April, TEAMtalk reported Southampton, Brighton and Premier League newcomers Norwich were all interested in the late-blooming 26-year-old Greece international.
VVV director of football Stan Valckx, meanwhile, has already admitted to BN DeStem that Giakoumakis is likely to be sold.
But for how much?
Voetbal International believes VVV may be tempted to accept bids of as little as £5 million for a man who looks set to join Ruud van Nistelrooy, Dirk Kuyt, Luis Suarez, Memphis Depay and Ronaldo in the Eredivisie history books when the Golden Boot heads his way.
£5 million for a 28-goal striker certainly looks cheap, especially in this market.
But, when you consider VVV paid only £200,000 to sign Giakoumakis from AEK Athens just last year, a massive cash profit would certainly make up for the departure of their star man.
There’s a train of thought to suggest, if Brighton had an ice-cool finisher to put away all those chances, Graham Potter’s side would be closer to the top ten than they are to the relegation zone.
Could Giakoumakis be the final piece of Brighton’s jigsaw?
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