Tottenham Hotspur are keen on Santiago Gimenez but former Premier League ace Rafael van der Vaart believes Feyenoord should not jump at the chance to sell even if offered shy of £20 million.
With three goals in his last four games – including one against Roma in the UEFA Europa League – Feyenoord’s Mexican marksman may have been forgiven for assuming that he’d silenced his critics again.
But it will take more than a strike against Heracles at De Kuip, Feyenoord cruising to a 3-0 win on Sunday as Santiago Gimenez hit the net again, to dispel Rafael van der Vaart’s doubts.
The £40 million-rated striker has been tipped to follow in Van der Vaart’s Tottenham Hotspur footsteps, his agent admitting that the London giants are one of a number of high-profile clubs – including Inter Milan, Atletico and Real Madrid – to show an interest back in 2023.
Tottenham Hotspur eye Santiago Gimenez
Van der Vaart, however, feels that Feyenoord would be lucky if they are offered even half of that reported £40 million asking price.
“We have already discussed that Feyenoord will lose many players. Many players who are in the spotlight,” Van der Vaart, who excelled alongside Gareth Bale, Luka Modric and co at Spurs between 2010 and 2012, tells Studio Voetbal.
“I have a lot of doubts (about Gimenez). I once said that he took away my doubts when he was really good. But even after this goal (vs Heracles) I didn’t think he played very well.
“If someone offers 20 or 25 million euros, then you really have to get rid of him. If someone wants to pay a lot of money for him, do it (the deal) immediately.”
24 goals but plenty of doubters
With 24 goals in 34 games, Gimenez has already exceeded his tally from the entirety of Feyenoord’s 2022/23 Eredivisie-winning season.
Tottenham supporters know only too well, however, that statistics can be misleading when signing strikers from Dutch football. Vincent Janssen, one of the most infamous flops in Spurs’ modern history, was the Eredivisie’s reigning Golden Boot winner when he joined from AZ Alkmaar, after all.
HITC Football, meanwhile, understands that Tottenham are in the market for a new centre-forward despite the impressive recent form of Richarlison and Heung-Min Son. Ange Postecoglou’s side remain keen on Brentford contract-rebel Ivan Toney.
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