With rumours of a record £30 million transfer fee to make the move permanent, Wolverhampton Wanderers striker Raul Jimenez has established himself in the Premier League. The rumoured fee would see the Mexican smash his own record for a Mexican player which he set after moving to Benfica from Atletico Madrid in 2014 for £19 million. Four years on, Jimenez signed for Wolves last summer in an initial loan deal last summer.
He didn’t enjoy the best of times in the Portuguese capital in his final season but now seems to have made Wolverhampton his home.
Wolves’ Raul Jiminez is the Signing of the Season
Promoted Club Challenges
Signing for a newly-promoted club is never easy. An uncertain, roller-coaster 12 months is generally in store for players and fans. In recent years, clubs have either managed to stick around and establish themselves (Burnley) or head straight back down to the Championship in woeful fashion (Huddersfield Town, this year). Wolves fans could be forgiven for preparing for the latter in their first season back. However, a string of high-profile, big-money signings sees them attempting to break into the Europa League places.
Wolves sit seventh in the League, a point ahead of nearest rivals Watford though 13 behind Chelsea in sixth. If the Midlands club can maintain their current position come May, it will be the highest finish by a newly-promoted club since Sunderland finished seventh in the 1999/2000 campaign.
Not First Choice
After their top striker last year managed only 12 goals in all competitions last term, Wolves went striker-hunting and spent £10 million on Benik Afobe. Afobe seems to have been lost in the conversation but he was initially meant to be leading the line for Wolves in the Premier League this season. £10 million is still a significant amount of money for a newly-promoted club like Wolves.
However, with the availability of Mexican international forward presenting an opportunity, the club took the relatively low-risk decision of acquiring the striker’s services for a £3 million year-long loan deal. Afobe was immediately sent out on loan to Stoke and Wolves would manage to recuperate his transfer fee, selling the former Arsenal striker to Stoke for £12 million in January.
Silencing The Critics
Along with fellow imports from Portuguese clubs, Diego Jota, Joao Moutinho and Rui Patricio combined with club icon Ruben Neves, Raul Jimenez immediately formed a core group of players. They needed them to be at their best if Wolves stood any chance of avoiding relegation. The star-signings did that and then some.
He announced himself with a terrific header on his Premier League debut before netting the winner at home to Burnley a few weeks later. Wolves have won fans across the country with their brand of football this term and Jimenez is an integral part of manager Nuno Espirito Santo’s jigsaw. The club managed 30 attempts on target in that victory over Burnley in October as the Premier League welcomed its newest underdog story.
The Mexican star is considered by many in his home country to be a more complete striker and attacking option than Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernandez. He can hold the ball up, link-up with teammates, create chances for others as well as get on the end of crosses into the box. At the time of writing, Jimenez’s goals and assists tally stands at an impressive 12 goals and seven assists in the Premier League as well as three important goals in the FA Cup, helping knockout Liverpool, Shrewsbury Town and Manchester United.
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