HAVE WOLVES FOUND STRIKER WITH RAUL THE ANSWERS?

FOR MUCH of the season, the talk around Wolves has been about which striker the club will sign in January. By common consensus, Nuno Espirito Santo needed a ruthless finisher to add to his attacking options. Raul Jimenez (left) is prompting a re-evaluation. The Mexican centre forward scored the opener against Bournemouth to take his season’s tally to five. Considering he also has six assists, his contribution to Wolves sitting in seventh place in the Premier League is strong indeed. He was brought on loan from Benfica, and Wolves have the option to make the move permanent for £30million. That would smash their transfer record, which stands at £18m for Adama Traore. As each week goes by, the sense grows that the club will push the button. ‘I feel good here,’ said Jimenez. ‘I’m fine, but that’s the decision of other people,’ he said. ‘I’m going to keep working and doing my job. I want people to think I am someone they want to have here.’ The 27-year-old is increasingly displaying predatory instincts which suggest that a possible move for Monaco’s Radamel Falcao could be unnecessary. Jimenez’s goal against Bournemouth showed anticipation for Diogo Jota’s shot that turned into a cross. Jimenez moved to the far post and earned himself a simple tap-in. He seems to thrive when playing up top alongside Jota, the pair closer together than when it is a front three, and his mobility for a player of 6ft 3in is good. Captain Conor Coady is a big fan. ‘I thought he was outstanding, the way he held the ball up and brought players in,’ Coady said. ‘The way he’s fitted in with the lads has been brilliant. He’s come

to this country and adapted ever so well. The goals and assists he’s been involved in have helped massively.’ Ivan Cavaleiro added a second in stoppage time to confirm a third win in a row for Wolves, the first time that has happened in the top flight since 1980. It was a sixth defeat in seven games for Bournemouth, whose early season success feels distant. ‘Things are just not going for us at the moment,’ said Nathan Ake. ‘We still have a good enough team, we have shown that before, so we just need to pick ourselves out of this hole.’