Wolves: Lopetegui has ‘something to work with’ over £100k-a-week star | OneFootball

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GiveMeSport

·29 November 2022

Wolves: Lopetegui has ‘something to work with’ over £100k-a-week star

Article image:Wolves: Lopetegui has ‘something to work with’ over £100k-a-week star

Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Julen Lopetegui has ‘something to work with’ when it comes to striker Raul Jimenez, according to journalist Dean Jones.

The 31-year-old has struggled for form over the last 18 months, and the new boss in the Molineux dugout will surely be hoping he can help Jimenez get back to his best.


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Wolverhampton Wanderers news – Raul Jimenez

Jimenez registered 17 goals and eight assists in 44 appearances throughout 2018/19, firing Wolves to a seventh-placed finish in the Premier League, and the FA Cup semi-finals.

The Mexico international then took his game to new heights in the subsequent campaign, finding the back of the net on 27 occasions in 55 outings while laying on a further 10 strikes for his teammates.

However, a fractured skull in November 2020 halted Jimenez’s impressive progress in cruel fashion, and he was only able to bag six goals in all competitions last term.

Article image:Wolves: Lopetegui has ‘something to work with’ over £100k-a-week star

Alex Crook of talkSPORT then claimed back in May that the Midlands outfit were ‘open to offers’ for the 6 foot 3 ace after concluding that he needed a ‘change of scenery’ to rediscover his best form.

Crook stated that Wolves were willing to sanction Jimenez’s sale for as little as £15 million, but he ended up staying put.

What has Jones said about Jimenez?

When asked by GiveMeSport if Lopetegui will have been impressed by Jimenez’s performances at the World Cup, he suggested not but that the Spanish tactician will not be too disheartened.

He said: “No, but look, there’s something to work with here. We know it’s been difficult for him to regain form and confidence. And that’s going to be the big thing for the manager now as he casts his eye over the squad.

“He’s taking charge properly now from this week, and properly getting a grasp of the players at its disposal, will be able to meet the ones that aren’t on World Cup duty, start working with a few of them.”

Could Wolves replace Jimenez?

Wolves signed Sasa Kalajdzic and Diego Costa over the summer to provide cover and competition for Jimenez, but neither signing has worked out due to injury and a lack of form.

Back in July, Portuguese reporter Bruno Andrade claimed Fabio Silva’s loan switch to Anderlecht led to Wolves reopening talks with Benfica over a potential deal for Goncalo Ramos.

The 21-year-old has racked up 20 goal contributions in 21 games for his club this season, meaning Wolves may revisit their interest in January.

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