Arsenal are growing increasingly open to rivalling Juventus with a summer swoop to sign Wolverhampton Wanderers’ star forward Raul Jimenez, according to Le10 Sport.
Arsenal are believed to be ‘thinking more and more’ about a move for Jimenez at the close of the current Premier League season, with the north London side preparing for the possibility of losing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette.
Discussion are ongoing at the Emirates Stadium regarding a new deal for Aubameyang with his current contract entering its final 12-months, but the Gabon ace is considering his options.
Lacazette is also considering his future with the Gunners amid interest from Juventus, whose proposed move to Turin is said to tempt the former Olympique Lyonnais hitman.
In any case either of the pair does leave Arsenal, Mikel Arteta’s side could look to raid Molineux for Jimenez, who has joined Lyon’s Memphis Depay, Moussa Dembele and Newcastle United’s Allan Saint-Maximin on their shortlist.
There is said to be a ‘great chance’ that Jimenez will be transferred by Wolves at the end of the current campaign, which is guaranteed to see Nuno Espirito Santo’s West Midlands outfit finish higher than Arsenal in the Premier League table.
Juventus are also monitoring Jimenez’s situation carefully after the 29-year-old penned a personal league season-high 17 goals in 37 appearances ahead of Sunday’s final day clash with Chelsea.
Would you back Wolves to successfully replace Jimenez?
Yes
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Wolves’ potential asking price for Jimenez is not noted in Le10 Sport’s report, though it would be fair to assume the West Midlands side would seek more than the £36million valuation touted by TransferMarkt.
Jimenez has been a pivotal part of Espirito Santo’s plans this term with the Mexican starting 36 of his 37 Premier League appearances, which have seen the 81-cap international forward pen the English top-flight’s joint sixth-most goals.
His efforts also account for 33% of Wolves’ 51 goals and is the only Molineux man to have found the back of the net more than ten times this term, while also assisting the joint second-most efforts (six) – only trailing Adama Traore (nine).
The former Atletico Madrid forward has also recorded an average 3.4 shots with 1.4 on target per 90 minutes in the Premier League this season, along with 2.2 total dribbles and 4.2 total aerial duels, per WhoScored.
