Arne Slot’s record signing features a star striker known for surpassing the league goal tallies of renowned players like Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappe—yet it’s not Alexander Isak.

Feyenoord’s standout player, Ayase Ueda, has been making headlines by competing with some of the world’s elite forwards, netting an impressive 19 goals across 21 matches in all competitions.

Getty

Slot made a historic move for Feyenoord by signing Ueda in 2023, setting a new transfer record for the team.

The Japanese international has delivered an extraordinary performance, scoring 18 goals in just 15 Eredivisie games this season without relying on penalties.

In a remarkable match against PEC Zwolle, where Feyenoord triumphed 6-1, Ueda was on track for a hat-trick within just 37 minutes when his team earned a penalty.

Instead of taking the penalty himself, the 27-year-old allowed Quinten Timber, brother of Arsenal defender Jurrien Timber, to score, and subsequently added two more goals to his count.

His four-goal haul has meant Ueda now has more league goals than Kane, Mbappe, and Manchester City superstar Erling Haaland.

Under Robin van Persie, Feyenoord’s No.9 has more than doubled the nine-goal tally that he managed in 31 games last season.

Deja vu for Arne Slot

In each of the two summer windows after winning a league title, Slot has broken a club’s transfer record to bring in a new striker.

Isak has just one goal across 641 minutes in the Premier League and Champions League since his £125million move from Newcastle.

The Swede has been outshone by fellow striker Hugo Ekitike, with talkSPORT’s Danny Murphy saying he looks ‘weak and well off it’.

Two years ago, it was Ueda struggling under Slot as backup behind Santiago Gimenez following Feyenoord’s Eredivisie triumph in 2023.

Getty

Ueda scored four without a single penalty in Feyenoord’s win over Zwolle[/caption]

Ueda has more league goals than Kane, Mbappe and Haaland

Ueda joined Feyenoord in a deal worth up to €10.5m (£9.1m) off the back of scoring 23 goals during his single year at Cercle Brugge.

Yet he started just five Eredivisie games in the 2023/24 campaign, all but one of which came in the final four matches of that season.

Over a year later, Ueda needed just five league appearances to equal the entirety of his goal return under Slot across 1,204 minutes.

“If you look at Ueda, he has been a bit of a slow burner for Feyenoord, it’s fair to say,” European football expert Andy Brassell told talkSPORT.

“It’s taken a while for it to happen, and it’s taken a while for him to be a consistent choice in the team.

Getty

Slot believed in Ueda’s potential but never saw the best of him[/caption]

“Now, I think the fact that he’s played as many minutes as he’s played in almost any other season already, because he’s started every game, which has been a really big thing.

“But it feels to me as if Ueda’s learnt to play in this Feyenoord team. He’s got some great creative talents around him, by the way.

“You look at Anis Hadj Moussa, Quentin Timber, you’ve got Goncalo Borges, the winger, to help create for him as well.

“I think that’s an important thing, when you’re looking at wide service for Ueda, that’s really helped this season, the arrival of Borges has been a big thing.

Getty

Ueda has formed a stellar partnership with Quinten Timber and Goncalo Borges[/caption]

“What’s remarkable about him is that he scores lots of different types of goals. He has got that presence in the box.

“If you look at his height, you wouldn’t say this is a guy who’s going to get a third of his goals in the air. But he is a really, really good dominator of those central spaces; he’s a really good header of the ball, as well as being able to get behind and run behind.

“So he’s almost like two strikers in one, really. I think the way that Feyenoord play and the way that they create chances has enabled him to become that kind of player.

“The way that he’s come out of the blocks, and of course it’s unavoidable to say the way that he’s been coached by Robin Van Persie, and that clearly helps.”

Feyenoord to cash in?

De Kuip will find European clubs knocking for their star striker for a second successive winter window following Ueda’s form.

Earlier this year, Feyenoord allowed Santiago Gimenez to join AC Milan, with clubs also expected to take a punt on his old teammate.

“There’s always a bit of a question mark attached to the Eurodivisie strikers because you just wonder, are you getting Van Nistelrooy or are you getting Afonso Alves, basically?” Brassell added.

“It’s quite hard to judge whether that goal scoring will transfer to one of the elite European leagues.

“I could see Ueda doing well in Spain, but I’m just not really convinced there’s the money out there for him, likewise with the Bundesliga.

Getty

Ueda – far right – has flourished since Santiago Gimenez – far left – was sold[/caption]

‘Got Leeds written all over him’

“I wonder if a bottom-half Premier League team has a dart for him next summer or maybe even as early as January, depending on where they’re at.

“He’s kind of got Leeds written all over him. There’s a lot to like about them, but where are the guys putting it in the back of the net?

“There are big question marks over the sustainability over the period of a season for both Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Lukas Nmecha.

“So I wonder if you throw in Ueda in the mix and make use of that hot-hand syndrome. This guy’s in great nick at the moment.

“Why don’t we get him in now and just let him continue that great season, but at our place?

“If you’re Feyenoord and a Premier League club come in with a proper offer, I think it’s quite hard to say no.

“However ambitious Van Persie is, I think a big offer tempts you.”

Getty

Leeds will likely face extensive competition for his signature[/caption]

Premier League transfer in January

Ueda’s former boss, Slot, recently admitted that part of Isak’s struggles is the lack of a Jacob Murphy profile in his Liverpool squad.

Fortunately, that wouldn’t be an issue for Ueda, who ‘scores all types of goals’ according to Brassell.

He continued: “If you look at the Leeds full-backs as well, if I’m Ueda, I’d go in and make friends with Gabriel Gudmundsson on the first day.

“There are so many opportunities for him – Leeds is just one example.

“I’m sure when it comes to January, there will be a couple of bottom-half Premier League clubs that have a dart for him.

“I’d be really surprised if that wasn’t the case.”