Ange Postecoglou is building something at Tottenham but still needs a first-class centre-forward.
Even though key players have suffered serious injuries over the previous few months, Tottenham Hotspur is in a strong position going into the January transfer window under manager Ange Postecoglou’s squad, which is vying for a spot in the top four.
After 18 games and just four points behind table-topping rivals Arsenal, Spurs are fourth in the Premier League. They have erased the scars from the 2022–2023 season, which saw Antonio Conte fired before a miserable conclusion that left them in eighth place.
Harry Kane chose to end his career with the north London team after realizing that playing in Europe was out of his grasp. He signed a £100 million deal to join Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich.
It’s interesting to note that Postecoglou chose to distribute the transfer activity over the pitch rather than simply replace the player who had made 430 appearances and scored 278 goals.
However, despite Heung-min Son’s success switching to a center-forward position, Spurs will now evaluate their alternatives in order to make a move in 2024, with Santiago Gimenez of Feyenoord being one of the potential targets.
Spurs transfer targets – Santiago Gimenez
Gimenez was included as a target for several clubs in a list of Premier League teams’ transfer targets published by the Guardian’s Ed Aarons on Christmas Eve in advance of the winter transfer window.
Numerous La Liga teams are also interested. Although it wouldn’t be the simplest transaction to complete, Gimenez would provide Spurs with a natural presence as a strong striker—something they haven’t exactly done this season.
Santiago Gimenez’s style of play
Postecoglou’s efforts won’t be limited to the back line, even though Tottenham will prioritize adding a new central defender in January. Instead, a coordinated effort to bolster multiple areas would be the most effective way to maintain the push for Champions League football.
Even though Gimenez would be costly to add to the team, talent scout Jacek Kulig described him as “on fire” for his free-scoring exploits during the previous season, making him one of the most intriguing center-forwards on the scene right now.
In fact, Gimenez scored 28 goals in all competitions as Feyenoord stormed to the league championship in 2022–2023, prompting journalist Antonio Mango to laud his “insane” exploits.
If the forward’s efforts from the previous season were satisfactory to De club aan de Maas, then this season’s absurd scoring pace has exceeded all expectations. In just 22 games across all competitions, he has posted 20 goals and four assists, earning Kulig’s enthusiastic nickname of the “Mexican machine.”
Feyenoord, in second place in the league, may be ten points behind PSV Eindhoven, who are playing fantastically and have won all 16 of their games thus far, but Gimenez has given it his all.
The 24-cap international has scored eighteen goals in just 16 games in the Dutch top division, according to Sofascore. He also creates 1.1 important passes per game, takes 3.9 shots, and provides four assists, solidifying his reputation as a premier center striker.
The 22-year-old really ranks in the top 1% of forwards in divisions that are comparable to the Dutch Eredivisie for goals scored, the top 2% for shots taken, and the top 1% for touches in the attacking box per ninety. This information is kindly provided by FBref.
This incredible success rate would be a terrifying addition to the Tottenham team, who could provide unmatched assistance from players like Son, James Maddison, and Dejan Kulusevski—the latter of whom may gain a great deal from Gimenez’s potential arrival.
Imagine Santiago Gimenez & Dejan Kulusevski
In the summer, Tottenham paid £40 million to acquire Maddison from Leicester City, giving Postecoglou access to one of the best playmakers in the Premier League to bolster his lineup and coaching staff.
Due to an ankle injury he suffered against Chelsea in early November, the England international has been out of the lineup; Kulusevski seems to have taken over as the team’s creative leader in his place.
And what an effect the 23-year-old has made in recent games, having mostly been played on the right flank, registering two goals and two assists apiece from a key spot in the attacking midfield in recent weeks.
Kulusevski has made 18 appearances in the Premier League this season, scoring five goals and dishing out two assists. He has also completed 84% of his passes, averaged 2.3 crucial passes and 4.4 ball recoveries per game, demonstrating his creative style and work ethic.
Among many who have been impressed by his recent achievements is Jamie Weir of Sky Sports, who stated: “Dejan Kulusevski truly is a very special player. Works so hard that it covers every grass blade. He has such a great heart and a hell of an engine.”
| Dejan Kulusevski: Similar Players | ||
|---|---|---|
| # | Player | Club |
| 1 | Bukayo Saka | Arsenal |
| 2 | Ousmane Dembele | Paris Saint-Germain |
| 3 | Hirving Lozano | PSV Eindhoven |
| *Sourced via Football Transfers | ||
Only Maddison (8.16) has averaged more shot-creating actions per 90 than Kulusevski (4.51) among Spurs players who have averaged more than three 90s this season, and that’s despite the dynamo providing a greater goal-scoring threat.
To put it simply, Gimenez is vital and still has a lot of potential ahead of him. He might form a dream partnership with Richarlison in the future as he counterbalances Son’s more flexible striking threat, who has returned to his natural left wing role in recent games.
With rival teams in the Premier League showing a keen interest in this transaction, Postecoglou will need to throw everything at it.
