The future of reported Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur target Raul Jimenez is poised to come under the microscope this summer.
The Wolverhampton Wanderers striker has enjoyed a superb season with 22 goals across all competitions and a host of Premier League clubs have been linked with him.
Jimenez, 28, could be the subject of a bidding war once the transfer window gets underway.
Here’s what we know so far.
Who’s interested?
In addition to Arsenal and Spurs, Manchester United have been credited with an interest in the Mexican. Chelsea and Manchester City have also been loosely linked with Jimenez, who only joined Wolves two years ago.
Spurs manager Jose Mourinho name-checked Jimenez after the striker scored the winner against his side on March 1.
“They have Jimenez yes, fantastic player, and they have that incredible counter attack which is very difficult to stop, especially if you don’t have that mentality they showed.”
What has Jimenez said?
Before Christmas, Jimenez admitted the prospect of making a blockbuster transfer wouldn’t scare him, and detailed conversations with his father about a move to one of England’s established ‘Big Six’.
Speaking to Spanish newspaper Marca about the possibility of moving for a huge €100million fee, the striker said: “For a Mexican player, or for a Mexican, it would be almost impossible, perhaps because of the kind of mentality in Mexico.
"It will be said that ‘he is not so good’, whether ‘he is worth it’… But if someone pays that amount of money for someone it is because he is worth it.
“Sometimes the amounts are stratospheric but I think football has changed a lot, and it can be achieved. For me it would be an extra motivation to know that I have to give more of myself, back-up what they are paying for you and continue giving things to talk about.
"It doesn’t scare me. Football is something I’ve always dreamed of, it has always been my life. Therefore, if it happens, it would be an important motivation to carry out such a transfer.”
He added: “The other day, I was talking with my dad and he said: ‘If some of the top six teams wanted to sign you, where would you go?’
“I said: ‘But now I’m in the fifth!’ [laughs] I am on top of several teams that are considered ‘top six’. I’m great here. Then, it would be to see the conditions, if it suits me, if it suits Wolves and the other team.”
What have Wolves said?
Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo is a man of very few words when it comes to individual players, but even he has acknowledged Jimenez’s brilliance this season.
The Portuguese has time and time again explained how Wolves are ‘very happy with Raul’.
Asked about Manchester United’s interest in Jimenez after an FA Cup tie between the two clubs at Molineux, Nuno said: “This is the first time I heard it. Ole didn’t mention anything about that. The transfer window is open. When it is open anything can happen. We are delighted to have Raul.”
How much is Jimenez worth?
A player is only worth what another club is prepared to pay for him but in Jimenez’s case you get the sense that could be quite a lot of money.
Strikers who consistently score goals at the highest level are transferred for extraordinary sums of money and Wolves can expect to earn a pretty penny if they decide to sell Jimenez.
Wolves paid £32.6million to acquire Jimenez permanently from Benfica 12 months ago and, according to transfermarkt, he’s now worth £45million.
That makes him the most valuable Mexican player in the world, though CIES Football Observatory puts Jimenez’s value closer to £50million.
