Nottingham Forest Pursue Santi Giménez | OneFootball

As the summer transfer window heats up, Fabrizio Romano reports that Nottingham Forest has set their sights on signing Santiago Giménez, the rising Mexican star currently playing for Feyenoord. This potential move could mark a significant step in Giménez's exciting career, as well as a crucial signing for Forest as they look to strengthen their attacking options.

A Star in the Making at Cruz Azul

Santiago Giménez, affectionately known as "Chaquito," began his professional journey with Cruz Azul, one of Liga MX's most historic clubs. Born in Buenos Aires but raised in Mexico, Giménez quickly made a name for himself as a powerful and intelligent striker. His performances for Cruz Azul were nothing short of impressive, displaying a maturity beyond his years and a knack for scoring crucial goals.

During his time at Cruz Azul, Giménez became a fan favourite, contributing to the club's 2018 Apertura success, the 2021 Clausura triumph, two Campeón de Campeones de Mexico trophies, a 2018 Supercup and the inaugural Leagues Cup in 2019. His talent didn’t go unnoticed, and before too long, European scouts started circling. Eventually, Feyenoord swooped in for a fee between €4- €6 million to secure the young forward, a move that promised to elevate his career to new heights.

The transition from Liga MX to the Eredivisie was not entirely smooth for Giménez. His early days at Feyenoord were marked by a period of adjustment, as he had to acclimate to the faster pace and physicality of European football. However, Santiago’s resilience and determination saw him through this challenging phase. With time, he found his footing and began to showcase the talent that had made him a standout in Mexico.

By the end of the 2023-2024 season, Giménez had become an integral part of Feyenoord's attacking lineup, helping the club secure both the Eredivisie title and the Dutch Cup across the last two seasons. His goals, assists, and overall contributions on the pitch were pivotal in these successes as he netted 53 times in 85 appearances for the Dutch side, solidifying his reputation as one of the most promising young forwards in Europe.

International Challenges and New Beginnings

On the international stage, however, Giménez’s performances have been somewhat underwhelming. His display at the recent Copa América, fell short of the expectation for many, along with the overall performance of El Trí, crashing out at the group stage. In 2023, Giménez scored the winning goal as Mexico won the 2023 Gold Cup, but he has been unable to build on that moment. However, with the arrival of new manager Javier Aguirre, there is renewed hope that Giménez will soon rediscover his best form in the national colours.

Nottingham Forest's Ambitious Move

The Premier League outfit sees Giménez as the ideal candidate to lead their attack, bringing a blend of youth, talent, and European experience. An initial £25 million build was rejected, but Romano suggests that a second bid closer to £30 million has been submitted. As per Transmarkt, his value is in the region of £40 million, so the second bid from Forest is likely to be rejected once again.

For Cruz Azul, this potential transfer could bring financial benefits as well. There are rumours that the Mexican club holds a sell-on clause, which would entitle them to a percentage of any future transfer fee Giménez commands.

However, Forest is also considering other options should the move for Giménez fail to materialize. Arsenal’s Eddie Nketiah is reportedly on their radar as an alternative signing. While Nketiah offers a different profile, Forest's primary focus remains on securing Giménez, who they believe can make an immediate impact in the Premier League.

Arsenal v Bayer 04 Leverkusen - Pre-Season Friendly / Crystal Pix/MB Media/GettyImages

The Road Ahead

As negotiations continue, all eyes will be on whether Nottingham Forest can finalize a deal for Santiago Giménez. Should the move go through, it will be a major step in Giménez’s career and an exciting development for Mexican football fans. If the deal goes ahead, the striker will join the likes of Edson Álvarez, Raúl Jiménez and Julián Araujo as fellow Mexicans playing in the Premier League.

His journey from Cruz Azul to potentially starring in the Premier League is a narrative that captures the imagination, and it will be fascinating to see how this chapter unfolds.