Raul Jimenez’ Wolves plans confirmed as striker turns down transfer

Follow us on Google Discover

Premier League veteran Raul Jimenez plans to stay in Europe even as his future at Wolverhampton Wanderers becomes increasingly uncertain. 

That is according to Club America president Santiago Banos; the Mexican outfit having held talks regarding a potential move for the experienced striker in late-2022. 

Jimenez is entering the final 12 months of his contract at Molineux. And the now-31-year-old targetman was even left out of the Wolves squad for those recently victories over Chelsea and Brentford, The Athletic reporting that his absence was due to tactical reasons rather than any concerns over his fitness. 

But while Jimenez may soon be bidding an emotional farewell to the club where he played the best football of his career, Banos is not exactly confident about agreeing a deal to bring one of Mexico’s favourite footballing sons back to his central American homeland. 

“I spoke with Raul before the World Cup,” Banos explains to Record Mexico.  

“He still has a contract in England. His short-term idea is to continue in Europe, and that’s all.” 

Jimenez, it seems, would prefer to join another club this side of The Atlantic once his Old Gold career comes to an end.

Is Raul Jimenez leaving Wolves this summer?

Jimenez has not scored a single goal in 13 Premier League appearances this term. Barring one excellent display against Tottenham Hotspur, hopes that the former Atletico Madrid and Benfica striker can rediscover his form from before that horror injury back in November 2020 are fading fast.  

“He’s not been the same player since,” former USA international Herculez Gomez, who played in Mexico for a number of different clubs, tells ESPN. 

“This is a guy who maybe needs to realise that the best years are behind him. (Jimenez may) need to go down a level. The Premier League is too fast for him.” 

Banos admitted at the start of this year that he would ‘love’ to reach an agreement with Jimenez. Now, however, the Club America president appears to have accepted that he is fighting a losing battle.