Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is reportedly preparing a £22 million summer bid for Benfica attacker Raul Jimenez.
According to Paul Brown of Squawka, Liverpool are keen on signing Benfica’s £22 million-rated attacker Raul Jimenez at the end of the current campaign. The Mexican attacker has scored on eight occasions in 18 appearances this term, and could be a decent acquisition by the Merseyside club.
The Reds are enjoying a decent run in England’s top flight, sitting in second place and six points adrift of leaders Chelsea. Manager Jurgen Klopp also has an array of quality front men at his disposal, which in turn has led Liverpool to become the division’s leading goal scorers.
Philippe Coutinho, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino have been at the forefront of Liverpool’s attack, while the likes of Adam Lallana, Divock Origi and James Milner have also chipped in with vital goals for the Reds.
However, backup striker and England international Daniel Sturridge has struggled for playing time under Klopp and could leave the club in January at the end of the season. The former Chelsea forward was recently linked with a move to Stoke City and West Ham.
Sturridge has fallen down the pecking order at Anfield as Origi has been picked as the second-in-command post the injury to Coutinho. The Belgian has scored crucial goals and for the time being has cemented his spot in the team.
Thus, signing a striker of Jimenez’s quality makes sense for Liverpool. The 25-year-old is a Spanish Supercup winner with La Liga giants Atletico Madrid and after moving to Portugal, he guided Benfica to a league and cup double in the 2015/16 campaign.
The Mexican was primed to join Premier League outfit West Ham, but failed to show up for his medical. He stated that he missed the flight to London due to oversleeping the previous night.
Seeing a move to the Hammers fizzle out, Benfica decided to act quickly and snapped up the player on a two-stage deal that amounted to £18 million when they bought out the remaining fifty percent of his rights from a third party last summer.
Jimenez has an Olympic gold medal to boast of, as he guided his Mexico side to glory in the 2012 London Olympic games. He’s bagged nine goals on the international stage and is hoping to continue being a key part of coach Juan Carlos Osorio’s plans.
