West Ham United have again been linked with a move for Benfica’s Raul Jimenez.
The Mirror report that West Ham United are ready to battle Liverpool in the race to sign Benfica striker Raul Jimenez this summer – two years since they initially pursued him.
Jimenez, 26, started just six league games for Benfica last season, but did finish the campaign with seven league goals, as well as four more goals in other competitions.
Benfica’s Raul Jimenez celebrates scoring
The Mexican international is now allegedly up for sale this summer, with the report claiming that he is being valued in the £19million bracket, as Benfica look to offload the 6ft 3in striker.
West Ham are now being linked with another move for Jimenez, having seen him snub a move to East London back in the summer of 2015, when he was playing for Atletico Madrid.
Manager Slaven Bilic was quoted by the Daily Mail in August 2015 as saying that Jimenez was all set to join West Ham – but just days later, he instead joined Benfica, leaving West Ham frustrated.
In fact, vice-chairman Karren Brady even told The Sun that West Ham were promised that Jimenez would be signing once he gained a work permit, but that never materialised as he headed to Portugal.
Mexico striker Raul Jimenez
Two years on, West Ham are being linked with Jimenez again. The Hammers are yet again in the market for at least one new striker, and Jimenez could fit the bill as a strong target man with aerial ability, whilst also offering more mobility than Andy Carroll.
However, whilst West Ham are allegedly keen, the circumstances surrounding his 2015 snub may leave a sour taste in the mouth for the Hammers, who certainly won’t want to be strung along in a deal for the striker yet again, and he should only be an option rather than a prime target for Bilic’s men.
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