Santiago Gimenez now wanted by Champions League outfit after rejecting Nottingham Forest

The saga involving Nottingham Forest and Santiago Gimenez looks to have reached a conclusion, with the player now off the shortlist at the City Ground.

A Mexican striker, Gimenez looks to have rejected Forest once and for all as he focuses on playing in the Champions League this season.

The 23-year-old scored 26 goals during 2023/24 and helped Feyenoord reach the new-look Champions League for this season.

Yesterday, it was claimed that Forest were close to a deal for Gimenez – but as is sometimes the case with the transfer window, things took a turn for the worse.

In the evening, it was claimed that Gimenez had had a change of heart and would be remaining with Feyenoord for the time being.

Now, things are starting to make more sense with other clubs now coming forward for the striker.

Santiago Gimenez now wanted by Bayer Leverkusen
Daniel Reyes Villasenor, Leverkusen have now made a play to sign the striker.

It did seem surprising that Gimenez had changed his mind, given that it was earlier claimed that he was keen to move to Forest.

Now, Leverkusen will naturally provide an attractive proposition and they will be in the Champions League this season too.

Gimenez would be signing for the team that didn’t lose a single game in the Bundesliga or German Cup last season.

The only defeat that Xabi Alonso experienced came when Atalanta thrashed his team in the final of the Europa League in Dublin.

Forest will have a contingency plan for Gimenez
The Mexican has a very high ceiling and it’s a shame that Leverkusen have made a play for Gimenez so late in the day.

The Reds will surely have a contingency plan and Forest have been linked with a move for Brentford striker Yoane Wissa.

He might not have the same sort of ceiling but Forest will be able to revisit their search for a new primary striker in the next couple of transfer windows.

Gimenez would have been a wonderful signing for the Reds and he’d have been a player with vast potential and someone who would carry a significant amount of resale value.

Now, however, it’s back to the drawing board for Forest and it will be interesting to see who the club manages to get over the line before the deadline on Friday.