Reports: Gimenez wants ‘dream’ Milan move – directors working on €35-40m operation | OneFootball

AC Milan are really pushing to sign Feyenoord striker Santiago Gimenez before the window closes, but it will be a difficult deal to complete.

If Milan were keeping an eye on Gimenez during last night’s game against Bayern Munich to see how he coped in the Champions League against a top side, they got their answer. The forward scored a brace as Feyenoord won 3-0, and after the game he responded to the Milan links, not closing the door.

Milan and Feyenoord are talking while Rafaela Pimenta – the agent of the Mexico international, together with his father Christian – have communicated to the Dutch managers their client’s desire to leave Rotterdam in January and not next summer market.

The 23-year-old is the first choice to strengthen the attack and if it is not possible to get him, an attempt will be made to get Rasmus Hojlund or Joshua Zirkzee on loan from Manchester United, or Joao Felix from Chelsea who has different characteristics but who Sergio Conceiçao likes.

Gimenez has already given the green light to move to Milan, as was revealed yesterday. The Rossoneri directors, together with his entourage, will try to please him. Feyenoord started with a valuation of €40m and do not want to offer any discounts.

The Diavolo will try to insert a counterpart into the operation, which is not a simple hypothesis. By completing a sale the task would be easier, though the fact Strahinja Pavlovic has said no to Fenerbahce didn’t help, even if Stuttgart and Leicester have also asked for information.

According to the latest from Footmercato‘s Sebastien Denis (who first broke the news of Conceicao’s arrival), Marseille were keen on Gimenez too but have fallen back in the race. Milan have ‘clearly accelerated’ in recent hours and want to do a deal this month.

If the progress of the discussions has not leaked, some Dutch sources suggest that we could be heading towards a fee estimated between €35-40m. The striker considers it a ‘dream’ to play at San Siro.

Finally, Calciomercato.com report that Gimenez has a €50m release clause but for €35m the Eredivisie side would consider selling. However, to support an investment of this size and bring forward a signing planned for the summer, sales are needed.

Emerson Royal to Galatasaray is the most advanced negotiations, but it is a paid loan with an option to buy and therefore minimal guaranteed money. There is no news on Noah Okafor (after his failure to join RB Leipzig), Samuel Chukwueze and Ruben Loftus-Cheek, meanwhile.