The Wolverhampton Wanderers fans in the Transfer Tavern are intrigued by recent reports which confirm their club has sealed a move for Raul Jimenez, but there is plenty of reason to believe Nuno Espirito Santo should abandon his pursuit.
Wolves have recently sealed a deal for the Mexican, though it’s not necessarily a good thing. Wolves have been strongly linked with a move for AC Milan’s Andre Silva, but they have instead opted for Jimenez.
The Mexico international is certainly a technically gifted talent, but his mediocre record for Benfica last season suggests that Wolves would have been wise to abandon their pursuit and target a striker who possesses a clinical edge. With only 6 goals from 33 appearances in Liga Nos, the Wanderers faithful have every right to express their concern over the deal, as the step up to the Premier League will undoubtedly cause Jimenez some problems next season.
With that in mind, Wolves should still target a striker who has plenty of experience in English football and a clinical edge in the penalty area, namely Newcastle United’s outcast Aleksandr Mitrovic (valued at £7.2 million by Transfermarkt). The Serbia international has struggled to establish himself since Benitez took the reigns at St James’ Park, but he proved his quality during a loan spell with Fulham last season in which he bagged 12 goals from 17 appearances to help the club return to the top-flight.
The 23-year-old attacker would offer a strong physical presence at the spearhead of Wolves’ attack and would be on hand to gobble up chances in the penalty area next season. The presence of a clinical goalscorer will be a necessity for Wolves to achieve survival next season, and Mitrovic is a player who more than fits the bill.
It appears that Wolves have their hearts set on Jimenez this summer despite his average record in Portugal, but if they hit a snag in negotiations they should target Mitrovic to secure the services of a player who has the potential to become a genuine fan-favourite at Molineux.
Wolves fans – thoughts? Let us know below!
