Fulham Close in on Signing Wolves Striker Raul Jimenez
Fulham are closing in on the signing of Wolves striker Raul Jimenez for a fee of about £5m. The move for Mexico international Jimenez, 32, has been prompted by the uncertainty over Aleksandar Mitrovic’s future. The Serbia striker is still pushing for a move to Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal after Fulham rejected a £25m bid.
Jimenez has been at Wolves since 2018 and his contract is due to run until 2024. Following a loan spell in which he scored 15 goals in 37 games, Wolves made Jimenez a then-club record signing for £30m from Benfica in 2019. He continued to impress but suffered a setback when a clash with Arsenal defender David Luiz in 2020 left him with a fractured skull. Jimenez returned to action nine months later and scored six Premier League goals in 2021-22, before failing to find the net in 15 league games last season.
Fulham manager Marco Silva expressed his frustration at a lack of signings before Sunday’s opening match of the Premier League Summer Series against Brentford.
## Raul Jimenez: A Record Signing for Wolves
Raul Jimenez has been a fixture in the Wolves squad since 2018, when he joined the club on loan from Benfica. His impressive performances during his loan spell earned him a permanent move to the club, with Wolves making him their record signing for £30m in 2019.
Jimenez continued to impress during his time at Wolves, scoring 15 goals in 37 games during his first season with the club and six goals in 2021-22 before suffering a setback when he was injured in a clash with Arsenal defender David Luiz in 2020, leaving him with a fractured skull and sidelining him for nine months.
## Uncertainty Over Aleksandar Mitrovic’s Future Prompts Move for Jimenez
The move for Jimenez has been prompted by the uncertainty over Aleksandar Mitrovic’s future at Fulham, with the Serbia striker still pushing for a move to Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal after Fulham rejected a £25m bid for him.
Fulham manager Marco Silva expressed his frustration at a lack of signings before Sunday’s opening match of the Premier League Summer Series against Brentford, but it appears that the club are now close to securing the signing of Jimenez as they look to bolster their attacking options ahead of the new season.
## Conclusion
Raul Jimenez has been an impressive performer for Wolves since joining the club in 2018 and is now set to make the switch to Fulham as they look to strengthen their squad ahead of the new season. With his contract due to run until 2024, it appears that Fulham have secured a quality signing who will add experience and quality to their attack as they look to build on their impressive performances from last season and challenge for European qualification this year.