ARSENAL have been tipped to sign Raul Jimenez as a replacement for Alexandre Lacazette.
The Mexico star who plays as a forward for Wolves was linked with Manchester United in the last transfer window.
And it’s easy to see why the 28-year-old Molineux ace has been attracting the attention of the Premier League’s big guns.
He has 13 goals in 28 Prem matches this season, and nine goals in 12 Europa League outings.
Jimenez said last December that he was ready to join a bigger club after his £30million move from Benfica in 2018.
He commented at the time: “The most important thing for me is to keep moving forward.
“I am happy with Wolves, but I always have to seek something more and keep fighting.
“This has been the best year of my career – but I want more.”
And he recently admitted he was “open to everything” regarding his future.
He told ESPN Mexico: ”One is always open to everything, but I have a contract until 2023.”
But former Chelsea star Craig Burley is adamant Arsenal should do all they can to bring Jimenez to the Emirates.
He said: “What will Raul Jimenez give you? Experience, but still at a good age, runs the channels, physical in the air, works hard when he’s not got the ball and scores goals.
“Bare in mind they have Aubameyang and hopefully won’t lose him.
“But Lacazette’s frustrations are out there about not playing, he could go elsewhere.
“If you had Aubameyang on the left and a big physical presence through the middle, that would make sense to me.
“I’m sure there are other options there for Arteta, but this guy – Arsenal sides through the years have been a bit soft, this guy’s not soft.
“He’s a physical player who scores goals in the Premier League. I’d have him in a heartbeat and I think Arteta would as well.
“He’s got a bit extra, he scores goals and he’s a winner. Good player.”
Arteta has warned Arsenal they face a summer firesale if they miss out on the Champions League for a fourth consecutive season.
He may be forced to sell some of his leading stars to make up for the cash shortfall, with the futures of Aubameyang, Lacazette, Bukayo Saka, Granit Xhaka and Shkodran Mustafi all up in the air.
Arteta knows the club simply cannot afford to miss out on European qualification for the first time since 1995.
He said: “The damage caused by the club not being in the Champions League is really big.
“The financial impact is enormous because Arsenal is structured to be in the Champions League.
“While you can sustain being out of it for one year or two years, after that you have to start making big decisions.
“We will have to make decisions about players depending on the scenario we find ourselves in, whether we are in the Champions League, the Europa League or nowhere near either.
“The planning has started and we’ll have a very clear idea of what we want to do, depending on where we finish the season.”
