Feyenoord insist there is ‘no indication’ that Eredivisie-winning striker Santiago Gimenez will leave this summer despite links with Premier League duo Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur.
The former Cruz Azul striker recently became the first Mexican player since Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernandez – once of Real Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen and Manchester United – to break the 20-goal barrier for a European club.
In total, Santiago Gimenez has 23 in Feyenoord colours, scoring in eight successive Eredivisie games as Arne Slot’s side ended their six-year wait for another league title. As debut seasons go, you’d struggle to find many better than this.
Gimenez’s razor-sharp movement and instinctive finishing has understandably led to rumours surrounding his future.
Manchester United, Tottenham, Brighton, Leicester City and West Ham all sent scouts to watch Gimenez and captain Orkun Kokcu during the recent Dutch cup semi-final meeting between Feyenoord and Ajax, per The Mirror.
Newcastle are also keeping tabs, via Mexican publication La Razon.
Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur like Santiago Gimenez
But, according to general manager Dennis te Kloese, all the signs point to Gimenez staying at De Kuip for at least one more season.
“The biggest argument for him to stay is that we are entering the Champions League” Te Kloese tells TV Azteca. “For a player, there is no greater challenge than playing in the Champions League. He must take advantage of this.”
“You never know in football but, at the moment, there is no concrete interest. He has a long-term contract. We have no indication that he will go to another club.
“That will happen when the time is right. When he has played games in the Champions League and played more consistent games at a high level.”
The £23 million-rated Gimenez is clearly in no rush to follow Tyrell Malacia, Luis Sinisterra and co out the door. Feyenoord can only hope that head coach Slot and talismanic skipper Kokcu are similarly committed to the cause.
Tottenham are particularly interested in the former.
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