28 October 2023 , 21:30
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West Ham are among a long list of clubs chasing highly-rated Feyenoord frontman Santiago Gimenez.
The Mexican hot-shot has struck 15 times in 11 outings in all competitions this season - netting a brace on his Champions League debut against Lazio on Wednesday evening. West Ham, Tottenham, Arsenal, Newcastle, Inter Milan, AC Milan, Juventus, Napoli, Lazio, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid have all watched the 22-year-old in action during months gone by and Feyenoord are braced for winter approaches.
West Ham were ahead of the game and actually initiated preliminary talks over a deal for Gimenez in August - both with Feyenoord and his representatives - following the sale of Gianluca Scamacca - but the player opted to extend his contract in Rotterdam until 2027.
He was one of several names recommended to the club by technical director Tim Steidten before the Irons later explored alternative targets such as Sevilla's Youssef En-Nesyri and Corinthians attacker Yuri Alberto.
Now Gimenez's value has sky-rocketed upwards of £40million although Feyenoord have no interest in selling their most-valuable asset, particularly halfway through the current campaign, in January.
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A new striker is one of the topics at the top of West Ham's transfer agenda with Danny Ings still struggling to provide serious competition for Michail Antonio. Although Gimenez is not the only target of interest - he is believed to be a popular pick among the Hammers' transfer committee despite widespread competition from across Europe.
Earlier this week, intermediary Morris Pagniello, who claims to be assisting Gimenez's father during talks over the striker's future, said Tottenham and Real Madrid are in the box-seat for a future transfer. However, it's understood the figure has no active involvement in representing the centre-forward.
The Mexico international put his name up in lights in late September after bagging a hat-trick in Feyenoord's 4-0 De Klassieker victory over Ajax.
Gimenez scored a brace before the match was abandoned due to fan violence. He then completed his treble four days later when the match was resumed behind closed doors. Speaking to Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf in September, Feyenoord director Dennis te Kloese made it clear Gimenez was ready to snub big-money offers to remain at De Kuip for the foreseeable future.
"A lot has happened [in regards to interest]. But Santiago has a good head and he has a great character," Te Kloese said. "If a big club came, he would say: 'This is not where I want to go, I don't want to leave yet. I first want to profile myself at Feyenoord and further develop at European level.'
"He also said that he has a very good trainer here. What he has at Feyenoord gives him peace and that also helps him to continue playing for the national team. He has only just broken through.”