Shropshire Star

Wolves set to sign striker Raul Jimenez

Wolves look set to sign striker Raul Jimenez on loan as they eye up a double swoop from Portugal.

Published
Last updated
Mexican striker Raul Jimenez is poised to join Wolves

Mexico international forward Jimenez is poised to join on loan from Benfica for the season. It's reported Wolves have an option to buy the 27-year-old for £30million.

Jimenez became the most expensive signing in Portuguese league history when joining Benfica from Atletico Madrid for around £20m.

He has scored 18 goals in 80 league appearances, although 60 of those have come from the bench.

The left-footed 6ft 1in forward is in Mexico's squad for this summer's World Cup in Russia and has netted 13 goals in 63 games for his country.

Jimenez could be the first of two signings this week with Portuguese goalkeeper Rui Patricio believed to have agreed a deal to join Wolves from Sporting.

However Patricio remains locked in a bitter dispute with Sporting president Bruno de Carvalho, who it's reported has opened up legal proceedings against the goalkeeper.

It's thought Sporting want compensation if Patricio moves for free.

Sporting agency Gestifute – headed up by super-agent Jorge Mendes – claimed Carvalho asked for an extra £1.75m on top of an initial £15.8m deal to Wolves.

But Sporting accused Gestifute of demanding more than £6m to cover costs around player contracts in order to push through the deal.

Patricio was attacked alongside his team-mates by around 50 masked thugs at Sporting’s training ground after missing out on a place in next season’s Champions League.

It led to Patricio handing in his resignation at Sporting, where he has made 327 appearances since his debut in 2006.

He is currently away with Portugal preparing for the World Cup.