Crystal Palace Frontrunners to Sign Benfica Striker Raul Jimenez After West Ham Secure Hernandez
Crystal Palace are reportedly interested in signing the Benfica striker Raul Jimenez. The Portuguese newspaper Correio da Manha report that Palace have joined West Ham and Everton in the race to sign the Mexican international.
Benfica are keen to offload Jimenez with him having just one year left on his contract and have placed a €40m price tag on him.
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Jimenez has been linked with a move to England before. In August 2015, he was close to agreeing a deal to sign for West Ham on loan but reports claimed that the move fell through after Jimenez overslept and missed his flight to London.
He was at Atletico Madrid at the time and following the collapse of this move, Benfica swooped in and signed the Mexican for €10m.
In two seasons with Benfica, Jimenez has scored 23 goals in 77 games, helping them to win back-to-back titles in the Portuguese league. He was also part of the Benfica side that reached the quarter finals of the Champions League in 2016, scoring in the second leg against Bayern Munich but the Eagles were knocked out 3-2 on aggregate.
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Jimenez has also won 54 caps for his country, Mexico. He has 12 international goals, including against New Zealand in the recent Confederations Cup.
While Jimenez has been linked with moves to West Ham, they have instead plumped for the former Manchester United striker Javier Hernandez leaving Crystal Palace and Everton to battle it out for the Mexican's signature.
Palace failed to score in both their Premier League Asia Trophy which has caused their fans to call for the club to sign another striker.
The Eagles are expected to make a bid but it could be one that falls short of Benfica's asking price.
