Wolves set to sign Raul Jimenez from Benfica in £30m permanent transfer

Wolves could seal a permanent £30m deal for Raul Jimenez in the summer.

The Mexico international has been on loan from Benfica this season and has been a revelation, scoring nine Premier League goals and creating five.

The likelihood of the deal going through was boosted by Benfica’s 10-0 thrashing of CD Nacional – they are clearly not short on goals.

In Wolves’ first first season back in the Premier League since 2011/12, Jimenez’s form has propelled the Midlands side to seventh place and they travel to Bristol City on Sunday to fight for a place in the FA Cup quarter-finals. Their run has included an impressive victory over Liverpool in the last round and Jimenez has scored two crucial goals along the way.

The catalyst for Wolves’ rise has been the injection of funds from their Chinese Owners, Fosun International, who bought the club in July 2016. Supporters will hope Jimenez is the latest in a string of successful signings.

Following his side’s 3-0 victory over West Ham last month, Wolves manager Nuno Esprito Santo was left salivating over Jimenez.

“Raul is doing a fantastic job which goes beyond the goals he scores,” he said.

“The way he plays, his combinations, the way he works, he doesn’t stop – he is always giving us our first reaction to losing the ball. He has to keep on going.”

However, it could all have been very different.

Jimenez recently lifted the lid on a big-money offer from China that he rejected last summer in order to forge a successful career in Europe.

“I’m in a good moment. I had the belief and confidence that this was going to go well. Regarding the offer from China, it was a lot of money, but I knew it wasn’t the right moment.

“Everyone has different reasons for making these choices, to return or stay in Europe. I simply had faith that I could make a name for myself in Europe. I think that it’s working, I’m doing well without giving up.”