This article forms part of our Valuation Evaluation feature series, which is where Football Transfer Tavern takes a look at the increase or decrease of a player’s Transfermarkt valuation and whether it is justified or not.
Raul Jimenez has come a long way since joining Wolves on loan from Benfica in the summer of 2018.
The 28-year-old was hardly prolific during his time at the Estadio da Luz, scoring just six league goals in his final season there, and also struggled in Spain as an Atletico Madrid player prior. There, he found the back of the net on just one occasion before departing for Portugal.
Fast forward to now, though, and Jimenez finds himself flourishing as a marksman in arguably the strongest football division in Europe. He scored 13 goals in the Premier League last season and, prior to today’s clash against Tottenham, has netted 12 in 27 appearances this time around.
When the Mexican initially joined Wolves, according to Transfermarkt, his market valuation was £13.5m. That has since gone up to £37.8m, which is £7.8m more than what Wolves paid Benfica to buy him outright last April.
Such a valuation is probably a fair reflection, though you could not blame the Wolves hierarchy for demanding more than that, should they ever decide to sell Jimenez. He has become such an important asset for them and, simply put, there is not another player in Nuno Espirito Santo’s squad who carries anywhere near the same level of goal threat as the Mexico international.
[freshpress-poll id=”281467″]
With an average of 3.4 shots per game, no Wolves player fires at goal more often than Jimenez (via WhoScored). Diogo Jota is next on the list with 2.3 and then Ruben Neves with 1.6, showing the reliance on Jimenez to finish off attacking moves.
The former Benfica man, however, has proven that he can be the creator as well as the finisher. In the Premier League this term, he has six assists to his name and an average of 1.5 key passes per game, leaving him in second for both categories.
Undoubtedly, Jimenez’s stock is on the rise and is showing no signs of slowing down as he continues to make his mark in English football.
Wolves fans, how much do you think Jimenez is worth in today’s market? Let us know in the comment section below!
