VVV Venlo expect to sell Eredivisie Golden Boot winner Giorgios Giakoumakis with Premier League outfit Southampton in the market for a Danny Ings replacement, as reported by Voetbal International.
The rangy Greek may not be the first name on Ralph Hasenhuttl’s hit-list – the Saints appear to be prioritising Adam Armstrong and Tammy Abraham after their star man joined Aston Villa yesterday – but Giakoumakis’ fun-size price tag certainly makes a deal worth considering.
After suffering relegation from the top flight of Dutch football, VVV would listen to offers in the region of just £5 million.
That’s about a quarter of the fee Blackburn Rovers want for Armstrong and £35 million less than Chelsea will demand for Abraham.
Giakoumakis outscored both in 2020/21 as well, netting 29 goals in 33 matches for a side that finished one point off the bottom of the table.
An elegant number nine who would make even Simo Hayha look wasteful, Giakoumakis scored three hat-tricks last season and netted four goals in a single game twice.
Giorgios Giakoumakis could step up to replace Ings at Southampton
“We still assume Jako will be sold soon for the amount we have in mind,” says VVV managing director Stan Valckx.
“It has gotten noisier in the last few weeks. We are getting more and more calls, Jako’s agent too.”
Valckx, however, did rule out a move to Feyenoord for a striker who has also been linked with Norwich City and Brighton and Hove Albion, via TEAMtalk in April.
“I have recently spoken to (Feyenoord director Frank Arnesen),” Valckx said. “It was not about Jako. What I hear, from Portugal and other regions, is that Feyenoord are currently (looking for) other strikers.”
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