Manchester United are reportedly plotting a January move for Wolves striker Raul Jimenez as they look to boost their attacking department.
According to a report from Sky Sports, Manchester United are intent on launching a move for Wolves’ Mexican forward Raul Jimenez in the ongoing transfer window as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer eyes attacking reinforcements to his side.
Manchester United’s season has been a case of one step forward, two steps back. The Red Devils, despite being close to the top four in the Premier League and alive in all cup competitions, have struggled to perform at their best on a consistent basis with questions being asked over Solskjaer’s ability to lead this side and the transfer policies in place.
Manchester United allowed to leave two attackers in the form of Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez in the summer, but did not bring anyone to replace the duo. While youngster Mason Greenwood has stepped up admirably, the 20-time English champions have been overly reliant on Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial to produce the goods in the final third.
And in order to relieve some pressure off of them, Manchester United are looking at the possibility of signing another striker in January. They had set their sights on Norwegian sensation Erling Haaland, but were snubbed by the striker who opted to join Borussia Dortmund instead, which has forced them to turn their attention towards Wolves’ Jimenez.
Speaking on The Transfer Show, Sky Sports reporter Kaveh Solhekol said, “Manchester are interested in signing him (Jimenez) but it would be a very difficult deal to do because he has been playing so well at Wolves since he moved there. He has been identified by Manchester United as a player they are interested in. I find it difficult to believe Wolves would sell him, especially in January.”
Jimenez signed for Wolves in the summer of 2018 from Benfica, initially on loan, before his move was made permanent in April last year for a club-record fee, after a blazing start to life in England. The 28-year-old finished the 2018-19 campaign with 17 goals and 8 assists from 44 games across all competitions.
Jimenez has already equalled his goal tally from last season this time out, having already bagged 17 goals and set up 9 more in 34 appearances in all competitions.
Manchester United, under Solskjaer, have leaned towards signing young homegrown players with potential and Jimenez would be a departure from that policy. However, considering the goalscoring form that the Mexican has exhibited during his stint in England, he would be a great addition to this Manchester United side.
It remains to be seen if Manchester United’s interest in Jimenez translates into a formal approach. However, a transfer in January looks a difficult prospect as Wolves would not want to lose one of their best players halfway through the season when they are pushing for a top-six finish in the league and have booked a place in the knockout stages of the UEFA Europa League.
