MANCHESTER UNITED received a transfer boost with Wolves reportedly lowering their asking price for Raul Jimenez to just £18million.
The Midlands club face a battle to keep hold of their Mexican No9 when the transfer market reopens with plenty of clubs interested.
Manchester United and Juventus are among the clubs hoping to sign Raul Jimenez for a cut-price fee” width=”960″ height=”808″ />
United are understood to be one of those sides – but they face competition from the likes of Juventus and possibly Real Madrid.
And according to TuttoJuve, Wolves could demand as little as £18m for the striker.
That is despite the club paying a record £32m to make his loan from Benfica permanent last summer.
Jimenez, 29, has scored 39 goals for the Molineux side in 88 appearances, with 22 coming this term.
Manchester United bosses see Jimenez as an ideal man to come in and fill the void left by the departure of Romelu Lukaku last summer.
Odion Ighalo’s loan was extended until January 2021 this week but Ole Gunnar Solskjaer would surely jump at the chance to snap Jimenez up on the cheap.
Other reports claim that Juventus are set to rival the Red Devils for his signature – as they seek to upgrade on Gonzalo Higuain.
Jimenez recently admitted he is “open to everything” and that a move to Real Madrid or Barcelona would be of interest to him due to his unfinished business in Spain but his father insisted there is no concrete chance of him switching clubs this summer.
Jimenez Snr told Mexican outlet Medio Tiempo as saying: “Raul has always said so, that [the interest] is something very cool.
“He is very happy in his current team, hopefully getting into the Champions League positions and playing in the Europa League for now.
“Always for him, all of it is very gratifying. It is very cool to hear those comments.”
Jimenez still has another three years left to run on his contract at Wolves, meaning the club will be able to put their foot down and not be strong-armed into selling.
However, should they decide to cash in, they will need to line up a replacement.
Reports linked Benfica and Brazilian striker Carlos Vinicius with a move to the Black Country – but the Portuguese side seem unwilling to negotiate below the £89m release clause for their man who is also a target for the Red Devils.
