Manchester United is believed to be curbing expenses, but that does not mean they will continue to explore. After passing up Odion Ighalo, the Red Devils are now being linked to Wolverhampton striker Raul Jimenez. However, they are not the only ones after the Mexican footballer with reports that Juventus is also contemplating on taking him in.
In a report from the Sunday Times, United and Juve had allegedly made inquiries on Jimenez. And based on the tone of the article, it seems that the Wanderers are open to dealing away Jimenez provided their asking price is met. Wolverhampton is asking roughly $41 million for the 28-year-old striker.
For United, the interest in Jimenez may come as a surprise. It was previously reported that Marcus Rashford and Paul Pogba are most likely to be ready once league resumes, seen as a possible reason why they shelved plans of absorbing Ighalo from Shanghai Shenhua. Before that, it was believed that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was advised by management to curb down expenses. The reason behind this the financial crunch that the club is expected to face due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
That said, Juventus could end up as the frontrunner for Jimenez's services. Regardless of who between the Red Devils or Juve ends up striking a deal with the Wolves, the Mexican made it clear that he will not let the opportunity pass. He admits he loves Wolverhampton, but the chance to play for a talented team is something he will not pass up.
"If you tell me that tomorrow an offer from Real Madrid or Barcelona comes, it is obvious that you do not let such an opportunity go," Jimenez said.
For now, Jimenez will just have to wait and see if something will indeed go down. His focus remains with the Wanderers, a team that he feels can still make the top four once Premier League action starts. The Wolves are at sixth place in the table, trailing Chelsea by five points. A fine showing by Jimenez could make that push possible, not to mention raise interest in him by United, Juve, and some other teams.
Joining United remains possible, although there are things to consider. Aside from the curbing down costs, there are several players being linked to Old Trafford. Most are rumors, but it seems pretty clear that Manchester United has plenty of options on the table. And from the looks of it, the most reasonable investment will stand out.
