Santiago Gimenez appears to be on track to secure the Eredivisie’s Golden Boot award, following a revelation from his agent that Tottenham Hotspur, a Premier League powerhouse, is keeping a close eye on him. Despite Heung-Min Son’s resurgence, which has somewhat alleviated the loss of Harry Kane, Tottenham still faces a potential hurdle due to the absence of a traditional “number nine” striker. The agent of the Mexican international confirmed in August, speaking to Medio Tempo, that Tottenham had joined the likes of AC Milan, Inter, Napoli, and others in pursuing this Eredivisie-winning goal-scoring sensation.
Since then, Gimenez, along with Feyenoord as a team, has continued their strong performance from the 2022/23 season. His remarkable hat-trick in the 4-0 victory over arch-rivals Ajax has propelled Gimenez to ten goals in just seven starting appearances in the current Eredivisie campaign for the reigning champions. Roy Makaay, a former Feyenoord striker, believes that Gimenez’s hunger for goals sets him apart, stating, “Gimenez is more voracious than other strikers. I believe he will become the top scorer in the Netherlands.” Additionally, John van Loen, a former Eredivisie champion, praised Gimenez’s goal-oriented approach and consistent improvement, noting that everything he touches seems to be directed toward the goal.
According to reports from 90Min, Arsenal and Chelsea have also joined Tottenham in scouting Feyenoord’s prolific center-forward. Head coach Arne Slot hasn’t ruled out a potential departure in January. Feyenoord has already prepared for Gimenez’s eventual and possibly inevitable departure by signing a ready-made replacement, Ayasu Ueda, from Cercle Brugge during the summer transfer window. Coach Slot acknowledges Gimenez’s strong performance, stating, “He is performing admirably, and that cannot be denied. What’s great about Feyenoord is that last summer, we were able to invest in replacements, so we have a deep squad, even in case someone departs later on. It’s not January yet, and I don’t know if Gimenez plans to leave in January, but you never know. In any case, we already have a highly capable striker in Ueda.