Arsenal target talks up big move after rejecting summer Premier League offer

Feyenoord striker Santiago Gimenez has talked up his interest in a move to a bigger league, despite rejecting the chance to join a Premier League club over the summer.

The Mexico international has been very impressive in front of goal since joining the Dutch side from Cruz Azul in 2022.

The 23-year-old has scored 53 goals in 93 games since moving to Feyenoord, helping the club win the Eredivisie in 2023 and KNVB Cup in 2024 under current Liverpool boss Arne Slot.

Gimenez’s performances have attracted attention from England and Nottingham Forest made a move for him over the summer.

However, despite being keen on challenging himself at a higher level, he didn’t fancy the switch to the City Ground, partly because Feyenoord were offering him Champions League football while Forest were not.

He does see himself making a step up soon, though, saying that a club like Feyenoord tends to be a stepping stone to greater things.

‘From the moment I arrived here, I was told, and I have seen, that this club trains and sells players,” he told Dutch outlet 1908. ‘I have seen it in the last transfers, where 15 players were sold.

‘That also gives you the confidence that if you do well, your dream of playing in the top five leagues in the world will come closer. I know that can happen at some point, and I try to train hard every day. We will see what happens.’

Gimenez has already addressed his Forest snub, saying earlier this month: ‘We thought it was the perfect time to leave after two years in the Netherlands, but in the end there were things that were not in our hands.

‘There were two offers on the table; the one that came up was from Nottingham and the truth is that we had a lot of doubts, but in the end we decided to stay at Feyenoord primarily for the Champions League.’

Arsenal were first linked with the Mexican last year and he remained touted as a target this year as the Gunners considered a move for a new striker.

There remain calls from some Arsenal fans for the club to add another striker to their ranks as Gabriel Jesus struggles for form and goals, leaving the pressure on Kai Havertz to fill the role.

Gimenez is currently out injured due to a thigh problem, but he could well be back on Arsenal’s radar in January or next summer.

They will likely have competition, though, with Liverpool unsurprisingly linked as they are managed by Slot, while Tottenham were also thought to be interested in the Mexican over the summer, although have since signed Dominic Solanke.