Primeira Liga champions Benfica may look to sell Mexican striker Raul Jimenez in January and West Ham are hoping to strike a ‘cut-price’ deal.
Few expected Raul Jimenez to still be a Benfica player beyond the end of the summer transfer window.
The Mexican striker, however, is still plying his trade at the Estadio da Luz though his game time has decreased hugely this season. Only one of his 14 Primeira Liga appearances have come from the start and, in 250 minutes of action, he is yet to score a goal in 2017/18.
Nonetheless, there is still reported to be interest from the Premier League with Jimenez making clear that he is open to the idea of leaving the reigning Portuguese champions in January.
According to Record (27th December, page 12), West Ham United are again being linked with a move for the one-time Atletico Madrid striker. And with cash-strapped Benfica wanting to sell, it is understood that The Hammers are preparing an offer of around £25 million – merely a fraction of the price Rui Vitoria’s side were demanding in the summer.
As reported by O Jogo, Benfica were unwilling to let Jimenez leave for anything less than his £45 million buyout clause just a few months ago. But it is understood that they may now be willing to accept offers of £20 million less.
If West Ham are savvy, then, they could probably haggle down the fee a little more with Benfica desperate to get a decent fee for their out-of-favour striker.
Legend (or The Sun) has it that Jimenez would have signed for The Hammers in the summer of 2015 only to oversleep and miss his medical.
Two-and-a-half years on, will the Mexican finally be clad in claret and blue?
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