David Ornstein shares £40m Santiago Gimenez transfer update amid January links with West Ham United
David Ornstein admits he wouldn’t be surprised to see West Ham United make a move for Santiago Gimenez, but suggests it would take a fee upwards of £40million to prize him away from Feyenoord in January.
Reports emerged from The Times on Thursday (11 January) that the Hammers had set their sights on the prolific Mexican forward, valued at £30million, as David Moyes looks to strengthen his frontline for the second half of the season.
However, The Athletic’s Ornstein suggests it could take a much larger fee to secure the 22-year-old as currently Feyenoord are not entertaining any interest from any clubs.
Speaking on BBC Sport’s Transfer Gossip Daily podcast (12 January, 22:10) he said: “The injuries have hit them hard, they’ve become a really ambitious club and we know that they have a sporting director in Tim Steidten who moved pretty well in the market last summer.
“Many clubs were looking at Mohammed Kudus, they didn’t fancy it. West Ham took that gamble and it’s paid off, so I don’t think it would surprise you to see them make a Gimenez-style move.
“I don’t know if it’s going to be him, I really like what I’ve seen and heard of him, but there is, of course, the Dutch caution. Without knowing we were going to speak about it, I was on a call about him today and it was made very clear to me how desperately Feyenoord need to keep him this season.
“They’re in Europe, they could get into the Champions League and he’d be worth more than a sale price. Now if it gets up to a figure in the £40millions or more, where they can’t refuse then of course the situation can change.
“I don’t think right now they are entertaining any interest.”
Big fee
West Ham want to sign a striker capable of consistently finding the net to ease the burden on Jarrod Bowen’s shoulders, but securing a centre-forward of that calibre was never going to be an easy deal for the Hammers.
20-goal-a-season strikers are hard to come by and as a result of that teams are always going to have to pay a premium to be able to sign them. Gimenez has already scored 18 goals in 16 Eredevise matches this season so his recent form will only drive up that price.
The Hammers may be reluctant to shell out a £40million fee after an expensive summer at the London Stadium, but that reluctance could well see them ruled out of the race for the Mexican foward.
It will be interesting to see whether or not West Ham match Feyenoord’s valuation this month. Currently, it feels like they could well look elsewhere for a new centre-forward.
In other West Ham news, Antonio has been left in a rage following a “dumb” FA Cup update out of the London Stadium