Sebastian Salazar has backed Newcastle United transfer target Santiago Gimenez to join Champions League quarter-finalists Benfica in the summer.
The Futbol Americas pundit ideally thinks Santiago Gimenez should stay at soon-to-be Dutch champions, Feyenoord, where the highly-rated striker is making a name for himself.
The Mexican star is on course to help Arne Slot’s side win the Eredivisie and, as a result, see his stock rise in the transfer market, including rumoured interest from Eddie Howe’s Newcastle United.
As things stand, the Magpies are on course to secure Champions League football for next season, if that happens, then they will need to boost their squad.
The situation of Santiago Gimenez was spoken about by Sebastian Salazar and where the 21-year-old can go in the summer, as he told ESPN.
“Santiago Giménez continues his hot streak,” said Salazar. “Tenth league goal of the season. He got his fourth league assist of the season. Created another goal that ended up being an own goal. Feyenoord are now eight points clear. Santi Giménez’s stats this season are impressive.
“I disagree with the urgency (that Gimenez needs to leave now). If Santiago and his crew believe that Benfica is the best and perfect place for them, then he should go now.
“Other than that, I don’t think there is urgency. His Dad did an interview recently where he said ‘we are happy at Feyenoord’
“Specifically, they are probably happy he is being tutored by Robin van Persie. You can see the growth he has had ever since he got there. I don’t think him sticking around another year in the Eredivisie is going to hurt his stock at all, I think it will only come up.”
NEWCASTLE’S FORWARD LINE FIRING
Eddie Howe can do no wrong when picking his strikers. Both Callum Wilson and Alexander Isak are causing all sorts of problems.
But, with Wilson’s injury record, and the fact that Isak has been hit with the same issues since joining in the summer, then more depth will be needed in the summer.
Even more so if they are in the Champions League, in fact, they will be in some form of a European completion, so more attacking players are needed.
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