€25m Sunderland Links Refuse To Die After Latest Development: Is Black Cats’ Recent Promotion A Help Rather Than A Hindrance? | OneFootball

According to a report from TuttoSport in Italy, as relayed by Sport Witness, Sunderland are still in the race to sign AC Milan forward Santiago Gimenez. The 24-year-old Mexican international is finally nearing a return. He dealt with a nasty ankle injury that wrecked his season and stopped any chance of a move in January.

Sunderland’s Santiago Gimenez Chase: What AC Milan’s €25m Price Really Means for the Black Cats

Sport Witness followed Sunderland’s interest in Gimenez all through November and December. They confirmed the Black Cats talked directly to the player’s representatives after his rough start to life at San Siro. Regis Le Bris’ side looked like they had the lead over clubs like Fenerbahçe and Brentford, but then the injury happened and put everything on ice. Since that ankle blow, Gimenez hasn’t played for Milan at all.

He is scheduled for a big medical check-up next week. This test will show exactly when he can get back on the pitch. TuttoSport says things look good, and he might even start training again just a few days after he gets the results. Once Milan’s doctors give the green light, the club will put him on a specific plan to get him match-fit as fast as they can. Even with the good news on his fitness, nobody is sure if he has a future at the club.

Max Allegri has never really seemed sold on Gimenez as a starter. Allegri likes big, physical strikers instead. Milan showed that clearly when they went out and signed Niclas Füllkrug in January. The Mexican international scored five goals and got two assists in his first six months after he joined for €35m in early 2025, but that wasn’t enough to keep his spot. Milan have now put a €25m price tag on him for the summer. Premier League teams, including Sunderland, are watching the situation very closely.

Sunderland Transfer News: Is Black Cats’ Recent Promotion A Help Rather Than a Hindrance?

ARLINGTON, TEXAS – OCTOBER 11: Santiago Gimenez #11 of Mexico reacts after missing a chance to score during an international friendly match between Mexico and Colombia at AT&T Stadium on October 11, 2025 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Omar Vega/Getty Images)

There is a side to this story that most people are missing. Right now, Sunderland are playing well in the Premier League after promotion. They aren’t just buying players for the sake of it; they are building a real style of play. Most people think spending €25m on a Serie A striker is crazy for a just-qualified team. But Sunderland’s owners, led by Kristjaan Speakman and the Methven group, have shown they aren’t afraid to spend big. Plus, the club’s wage bill already handle players who belong in a top-flight league.

On top of that, Gimenez is in a situation you don’t see often in the transfer market. He’s a 24-year-old international with a huge profile and plenty of resale value. He’s available at a discount because the seller just wants to cut their losses. Milan want to get back as much of that €35m as they can. So, that €25m price is more about balancing Milan’s books than it is a reflection of his actual talent.

Also, Gimenez plays for the Mexican national team and brings a lot of marketing value. It is something Sunderland’s owners understand well. For a club building for the long term, signing him makes sense even if they don’t get promoted this year. He fits what Le Bris wants: a mobile forward who can press high and score in tight spots. Gimenez showed he could do exactly that at Feyenoord before he ever moved to Italy.