Reported Manchester United striker target Santiago Gimenez is in no rush to swap Feyenoord for the Premier League after claiming an Eredivisie title at De Kuip.
Feyenoord only need look at Der Klassiker rivals Ajax to realise how much damage can be done to a title-winning side within the space of one summer.
Ajax lost Lisandro Martinez, Antony and head coach Erik ten Hag – all to Manchester United – while also bidding farewell to Sebastien Haller, Nicolas Tagliafico, Andre Onana, and Daley Blind. It’s no coincidence that, in just 12 months, Ajax have gone from Dutch champions to 13 points off the top.
With manager Arne Slot, captain Orkun Kokcu and top scorer Gimenez attracting admiring glances from the Premier League, there is a chance that history will repeat itself at a Feyenoord side toasting their first Eredivisie title since 2017.
The good news, however, is that Gimenez is in no rush to depart; one year after moving to the Netherlands from Cruz Azul in his native Mexico.
Manchester United desperate to sign a striker
“It’s not that I run away from this question. If you ask me now, I say I want to stay,” Gimenez tells Voetbal International.
According to The Mirror, Manchester United recently sent scouts to watch both Kokcu and Gimenez. With 23 goals in all competitions, the latter recently became the first Mexican since Old Trafford icon Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernandez to break the 20-goal barrier in a European league. He has also found the net in eight straight Eredivisie games.
“I’m not done yet,” Gimenez adds. “We’re going to play Champions League. I’m at a club that feels like family, exactly what I had with Cruz Azul.
“I can develop a lot more as a footballer. The problem is that sometimes you don’t always have it in your own hands, football is unpredictable. But if I now listen to my head and my heart, they both tell me that I must stay.”
Reportedly valued at £23 million, Gimenez – like Atalanta’s Rasmus Hojlund – is potentially viewed at Old Trafford as a more affordable alternative to the far-more expensive Harry Kane, Victor Osimhen, Randal Kolo Muani or Goncalo Ramos. All of whom are likely to cost somewhere in the £100 million bracket.
Mexican publication WDeportes believe that Man United have been in contact with Gimenez’s camp.
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