Portuguese newspaper O Jogo report on Sunday that West Ham are ‘insisting’ on signing Raul Jimenez from Benfica.
It’s a transfer rumour which simply won’t go away, and Jimenez talking up a move to the Premier League this week, making it clear that he’d like the opportunity, has only encouraged things further.
O Jogo cite Mexican sources, and state the West Ham transfer is ‘practically completed’, it’s even explained that a deal could be done as soon as Sunday (on their website) and as soon as Monday (in their newspaper).
We’ve checked out the Mexican media, and whilst there are some claims of a deal being close, it all seems to be a mishmash of reports from Portugal, England, and Mexico.
The idea is Jimenez would be a back-up to Javier Hernandez, and leave Benfica for West Ham during the current window.
Jimenez is likely available, but it’s also likely Benfica would expect West Ham to pay over the odds for a player used mainly as a substitute last season, and who only scored 7 league goals.
What the combined signing of Jimenez and Hernandez would certainly provide is a huge 
commercial boost for West Ham in Mexico. If Slaven Bilic wants a Hernandez back-up then a deal around €20m may be worth it for Jimenez, who was highly rated earlier in his career, but Benfica will want more.
Now 26 years of age, the striker could feel he’s too old to be learning from Hernandez, but the twinning the pair together as options could be conceivable.
However, the Portuguese and Mexican media seem to be getting carried away about how close this West Ham transfer may be.
If this transfer does happen, the London Stadium merchandise sellers probably need to order in some West Ham sombreros.
