West Ham are definitely up for some business in Portugal, having being linked to three different Sporting players just this week. And it seems they have some interest in the Lions’ rivals as well.
As reported by O Jogo, Hammers officials were present at the Estádio Municipal de Chaves on Monday, where they watched the home side face Benfica.
Benfica managed a last minute win with a goal scored by Haris Seferović, and now have two wins in two games, meaning they’re still strong enough to fight for their fifth league title in a row.
O Jogo specifically mentions who West Ham were watching this time, something they’re not so used to doing. And according to the newspaper, the West Ham scouts were keeping an eye on Mexican striker Raul Jimenez.
The player was brought on after 78 minutes, and couldn’t do much on the left wing, being even criticised by the paper for taking too many bad decisions.
Jimenez is a bench player for Benfica, and has always been so. That’s why it was ridiculous to see the Portuguese press saying the club were demanding €50m this year, when Everton were linked to him.
Then West Ham were said to be interested, and the figures mentioned were of €30m or €35m, which are still high.
He’s a player who’d certainly be available for the right price, although we can never know how crazy Benfica will be when they set the numbers.
