Feyenoord’s Eredivisie-winning striker Santiago Gimenez appears to be aiming higher than Fulham with Premier League neighbours Tottenham Hotspur also in the race for the Mexico international.
In truth, Fulham’s pursuit of one of Europe’s most in-form number nines always felt a little ambitious.
Speaking to Tuttomercatoweb only a few days earlier, a representative speaking on behalf of Santiago Gimenez rattled off a ‘who’s who’ of European mega-clubs, all of whom are showing an interest in the Feyenoord talisman.
Fulham need a Mitrovic replacement
“We have already discussed (Gimenez) with Atletico Madrid,” said Morris Pagniello. “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.”
The ‘best’ options, maybe. But the most likely? Perhaps not. Pagniello concludes by saying that, as things stand, the two teams in pole position for Gimenez’s signature are Real Madrid and Tottenham Hotspur.
What chance, then, would you give Fulham of luring a striker who fired Feyenoord to their first Eredivisie title in six years last season? Even the most optimistic Craven Cottage matchgoer would have to admit that their side is a clear outsider, at best, with sources now telling TEAMtalk that Gimenez is likely to ‘hold out for a move to a bigger club’.
Tottenham more likely than Fulham
Mexican publication W Deportes, earlier this week, indicated that Fulham could make a club-record bid of £43 million. A fee similar to the one which saw Aleksandr Mitrovic leave West London for Saudi Arabia over the summer. Even that might not be enough, however.
Perhaps emboldened by Ajax selling Antony for a near 100 million euro fee not so long ago, some have suggested that Gimenez could find a staggering £87 million price-tag slapped upon his head (90Min).
That is some £70 million more than Fulham would have to pay for another of their January striker targets. Serhou Guirassy, the Bundesliga’s top scorer ahead of Harry Kane, reportedly has a very affordable release clause in his Stuttgart contract.
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