Feyenoord manager Arne Slot has admitted he will tell striker Santiago Gimenez not to join Newcastle United if they should come calling this summer.
The Dutch boss has been speaking about the striker, relayed by 1908.nl, as he continues to shine in the Eredivisie this season.
He joined Feyenoord from CD Cruz Azul in a €4m deal last summer and has gone on to establish himself as a key player in their success this season, scoring 10 and assisting four in 26 in the Eredivisie as well as scoring five goals in seven games in the Europa League and three in four in the KNVB Cup.
Those numbers have led to increased speculation about a possible transfer this summer, with several sides in the Premier League thought to be keeping an eye on his development.
Newcastle are one of them, with a recent report insisting that they are interested in him as they plan for the summer transfer window, and it later made clear that Feyenoord would sell if they were to make an offer.
It seems Slot is against that idea, though, revealing he will tell the player to stay where he is should the likes of Newcastle coming calling.
“I will advise him not to leave, so he can develop further with us,” he is reported as saying.
“Of course, he can still do a lot more than he is showing now. He has just been with us for six months, on another continent and in another league. It wouldn’t be right for a 21-year-old player to be at his peak right now.
“Santiago is very much a finisher now, but we are working to make him as complete as possible. We first tried to get him fitter, and I think this has worked out pretty well; he is also holding on longer and longer.
“Now we are trying to make him not only all-rounder, but also use him better as a striker on his qualities.”
