Liverpool may have been handed a transfer boost in their pursuit of Benfica forward Raul Jimenez as the striker has insisted that he is open to consider a move to the Premier League in the summer.
Earlier this week, reports emerged that there had been a substantial €45million offer for the Mexican striker from an unnamed club, following his impressive displays with the El Tri in the recently concluded FIFA Confederations Cup 2017 which was held in Russia, with Liverpool and West Ham United named as the likely clubs that could have made the offer.
And when inquired about a possible move to the Premier League Jimenez was quoted as saying by the Independent (Ireland):
“The Premier League is a great league, but you have to wait. I don’t close any doors and we’ll see what happens. I’m still at Benfica. Now, I’m going to have a good vacation then go back to work with everything.”
He added:
“I saw the [transfer rumour] came out but I don’t know anything. I was concentrating on the national team. I have a date to return to Benfica, to join the pre-season games and I’m in the club’s hands.”
Jimenez has been a part of the Benfica squad that has won the Portuguese league title for two years in a row now and has become a key part of their squad after having moved in the summer of 2015 from Atletico Madrid. He finished the previous campaign with 11 goals and 3 assists from 32 games across all competitions.
It is a bit of a concern that we are being linked with a player that hasn’t been the most prolific of the strikers, especially so, considering the huge fee that has been quoted by the reports. We need a striker in our ranks, but someone who can deliver us more than 20 goals a season – something that has been lacking since the departure of Luis Suarez to Barcelona, more so with the uncertainty surrounding the future of Daniel Sturridge.
There has been good intent from the club in the transfer market, having brought in the likes of Dominic Solanke and Mohamed Salah already. However, if we are to compete on all the four fronts next season, we need to strengthen our ranks significantly – a centre-back, a left-back and a striker should be on top of Jurgen Klopp’s shopping list.
