Gimenez shatters Suarez’s Eredivisie record

Robin Bairner

9 Dec 2023 10:50 GMT
3 min read

Santiago Gimenez, Feyenoord, 2023/24 — © ProShots

Feyenoord striker Santiago Gimenez has smashed Luis Suarez’s Eredivisie record for goals scored in a calendar year.

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The Mexico international has attracted serious interest from Chelsea and Real Madrid in recent weeks, while his goal scoring exploits have seen his Expected Transfer Value explode since the beginning of the season.

Gimenez, though, has been performing to a high level all year and has netted more Eredivisie goals in a calendar year than any previous player, sealing the record thanks to a late strike against Volendam on Thursday that preserved his side’s perfect record in the Dutch top flight this season through 15 matches.

His midweek effort was the 31st he has scored in 2023, surpassing the previous record of Luis Suarez, which was set in 2009.

Gimenez to follow in Suarez’s footsteps?

Chelsea and Real Madrid are monitoring Gimenez with the hope that he can replicate the excellence that Suarez showed when he moved to the Premier League with Liverpool and, subsequently, LaLiga with Barcelona.

The Blues may be prepared to pay whatever Napoli demand for striker Victor Osimhen, but they have Gimenez on their transfer shortlist if that deal does not materialise, while Real Madrid are keeping a close eye on offensive alternatives for Kylian Mbappe.

© ProShots - Santiago Gimenez, Feyenoord

The PSG striker is expected to join Los Blancos to fill the void left when Karim Benzema departed last summer, yet some doubts have been cast on that deal.

According to the latest reports from Spain, though, Mbappe has been handed a deadline of 15 January to accept Real Madrid’s offer, allowing Carlo Ancelotti’s side to look at other targets if he does not sign. Gimenez will undoubtedly be one of those players.

Feyenoord, meanwhile, are desperate for Gimenez to sign a new contract with the club that will allow them to retain the services of the impressive frontman for a season or two to come.