Rotterdam needs firepower. Naturally, the rumor mill is spinning. Word from FR12 is that Feyenoord has locked its sights on Nacho Ferri, the 21-year-old Spanish forward currently drawing a paycheck at Westerlo. He won’t come cheap. His contract runs until 2029, meaning the Belgian side will squeeze every last penny out of the Dutch giants. Ferri’s career has been a slow burn. He managed a meager single goal in 13 appearances for Eintracht Frankfurt before getting shipped off to Belgium. First came a loan spell at Kortrijk, yielding eight goals in 34 matches. Then came the permanent move to Westerlo, where he bumped those numbers up to 11 goals in 37 outings. It is progress. Barely. But in today’s inflated market, that passes for a hot commodity.
Why Feyenoord? Simple. They need muscle up front. Ferri offers a physical presence they desperately lack, showing enough raw growth over his Belgian stint to convince the scouts he is worth the gamble. The kid wants out, too. Who wouldn’t? Westerlo is nice, but Feyenoord offers a ticket to European football. That is the ultimate carrot. Westerlo, meanwhile, will play hardball. Replacing a double-digit goalscorer in Belgium is a nightmare, so expect a hefty price tag.
It is a chaotic time in Rotterdam. The club is currently steering a ship with no captain, having ruthlessly axed manager Robin van Persie earlier this week. Buying players before you even have a coach to play them is a classic modern football move. Let’s see if they pull it off.
