Everton have reportedly ‘intensified’ their contacts for the signing of Raul Jimenez from Benfica.
As reported by Portuguese newspaper Record today, Everton are still in negotiations for the striker, and the Eagles’ president Luis Filipe Vieira expects an improved offer before the transfer deadline.
Everton have already, allegedly, made a €30m bid for the Mexican international, but Benfica turned it down because back in January, a Chinese club had already offered €50m for him. The player didn’t want to go because of the lack of competitiveness in the Asian league.
Now as Jorge Mendes handles the negotiations, Benfica hope the agent can manage to get a decent fee with the transfer. They paid €22m to take the player from Atletico Madrid in 2015, he didn’t come cheap.
Jimenez has been on the bench at Benfica, so the 26 year old is willing to make a move to a place where he’ll have more game time.
He’s currently with the Mexican national team as he waits for his future to be solved, so Everton would have to sort out a long distance transfer.
It’s unclear whether Everton really have ‘intensified’ things or this is Record throwing out one last hope for Benfica.
