Considering West Ham United’s history when it comes to signing Mexican footballers, AC Milan striker Santiago Gimenez was an easy link to make ahead of the January transfer window.
Especially with the seven-time European champions reportedly interested in ending Niclas Fullkrug’s London Stadium nightmare.
Santiago Gimenez, linked with West Ham United since his Feyenoord days, has appeared once again in the gossip columns this week. With Fabrizio Romano reporting that Fullkrug is no longer part of ‘the project’, and with Gimenez struggling in Serie A, the prospect of a striker swap in the January window feels at least somewhat plausible on paper.
Fullkrug appears keen on a move to Italy. How Gimenez feels about potentially leaving the San Siro just 12 months after he joined in a £30 million deal, though, is a question only he can answer.
A question which may come his way in the next few weeks, as speculation rages and transfer plans are firmed up.
Of the twelve Mexicans ever to play in the Premier League, a third of those donned claret and blue. Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernandez, Guillermo Franco, Pablo Barrera and Edson Alvarez.
The prospect of Gimenez becoming the fifth, though, does not exactly warm the hearts of pundits Rodrigo Lara and Emiliano Raggi.
Mexican pundits feel Santiago Gimenez should not leave AC Milan for West Ham United
Speaking to TNT Sports Mexico, Lara has serious reservations about whether a striker who has scored only one goal in 11 AC Milan games this season could find the net reliably enough for a relegation-battling team plugging away in arguably Europe’s toughest domestic competition.
“I think it’s more like a fairytale [than a realistic expectation],” Lara says. “[The fans] want to see Santi Gimenez playing in the Premier League, and they are putting him in any team.
“[Because they have had] Chicharito, Guillermo Franco, Pablo Barrera, Edson Alvarez, then [some fans think] another Mexican should arrive at West Ham.
“Well, it’s difficult. I honestly don’t see Santi Gimenez at that level yet. For him to go to a Premier League team, he needs to get stronger.
“He needs to improve how he scores goals, because Premier League football is very fast, very physical, very strong, very quick. I think Santi Gimenez is still in the process of adapting to the Italian league. Serie A is very defensive and the Premier League is another level. It’s a whole different beast.
“If he is finding it difficult in Serie A, he is going to find it more difficult in the Premier League.”
Raggi also highlights the aggression and speed of English football as a potential problem. Gimenez missed 15 games in his final season at Feyenoord, while an ankle issue ruled him out of Milan’s final four matches before the November international break.
“The issue is how Santi Gimenez is physically,” Raggi adds. “He’s had some injuries. The first season at Milan wasn’t so bad. But the second season, with some injuries, with some problems, eleven games, only one goal.
“It’s not enough.”
Niclas Fullkrug could miss West Ham’s trip to AFC Bournemouth
If the West Ham fans are divided about swapping Fullkrug for Gimenez – some willing to take a punt on a man who fired Arne Slot’s Feyenoord to Eredivisie glory and others fearing a continuation of that striker ‘curse’ – the reaction back home in Mexico has been even more lukewarm.
Not for the first time, Nuno Espirito Santo insisted during his Thursday press conference that Niclas Fullkrug remains in West Ham’s plans. The Germany international remains a doubt for that trip to the Vitality Stadium, though.
“The rumours and the noise isn’t really important for us,” Nuno said. “We are going to need all the players and want all the players involved. Niclas is part of the group. He is working.”
Hammers News can also confirm that Nuno wants a new striker signed in January, whether or not Fullkrug stays or goes. Ivan Toney, Joshua Zirkzee and Chris Wood have all been linked, alongside younger, more left-field options such as Brazilian duo Endrick and Kaio Jorge.
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