Julen Lopetegui’s Wolves are willing to let Raul Jimenez leave the Premier League outfit during the January transfer with a move to the MLS on the cards, according to Mexican publication W Desportes.
Now, Lopetegui was never going to chuck Jimenez’s passport into the nearest shredder and cable tie the veteran striker to one of Molineux’s goal-posts. But neither did the coach attempt to hide his frustration when Jimenez opted to jet out to Qatar and take part in the 2022 World Cup, despite injury limiting him to just two league starts all season.
Lopetegui is obviously of the opinion that club should come before country. It is Wolves, after all, who pay Jimenez’s wages.
And, even if he understands Jimenez’s stance, Lopetegui rather hoping to see the 31-year-old stay at home during the World Cup break and build up his fitness again, with Wolves bottom of the table and crying out for his nose for goal.
Wolves could let Raul Jimenez go if Matheus Cunha arrives from Atletico Madrid
“It’s his decision, no problem. And I understand. But, of course, I told him my thoughts. He is not fit at this moment because he has been injured and he hasn’t played any minutes for two or three months. Two or three very important months,” Lopetegui said in November, via The Independent.
“I understand, of course, that players want to go to the World Cup. I understand the country puts pressure on them to go. But, in the end, you have to be able to play well and you have to show this for your club team first.
“But he decided to go. Mexico decided to call him up. I want, when he comes back, for him to be fit for us. I am worried about that, of course, because Raul is an important player for us for sure.”
A sad end to a happy story
Was this the motivation Wolves needed to step up their pursuit of another number nine? Maybe so; Fabrizio Romano reporting that talks are now underway regarding a deal that would see the £42 million-rated Atletico Madrid striker Matheus Cunha join Lopetegui’s ranks in the January window.
Cunha’s arrival, meanwhile, could bring about a rather sad end to Jimenez’s otherwise happy Wolves story. Per W Deportes, Wolves plan to make Jimenez available for transfer, both in January and next summer. The former Benfica and Atletico Madrid frontman, they report adds, ‘has a foot and a half’ outside of Molineux.
The MLS is one potential destination. Two North American based clubs have made approaches so far.
Jimenez’s contract, meanwhile, has less than two years to run. Now the wrong side of 30 and with injuries taking their toll; maybe now is the right moment for both parties to go their separate ways.
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