Is Benfica star the answer to Everton’s striking problem?

With just three days to go until the transfer window closes Everton are fast running out of time if they are to sign the striker they badly need.

Ronald Koeman has repeatedly spoken of his desire to bring in an out and out replacement for Romelu Lukaku, but all attempts so far have proved fruitless.

One name on an already lengthy list is Benfica striker Raul Jimenez. It was reported earlier in the summer that Everton were interested in the Mexican striker but were put off by Benfica’s hefty £45m asking price.

Fresh reports stemming from the notoriously unreliable Portuguese media over the weekend claimed Everton had sent scouts to watch Jimenez in action.

Unfortunately Jimenez only played 11 minutes as a late substitute, failing to get on the scoresheet.

Sketchy reports on social media early this week then claimed Everton may be preparing a £21m bid. Though given all the bluster leading up to the deadline it’s becoming increasingly to difficult to ascertain what’s reliable and what’s not.

via WhoScored

Jimenez’s recent record is certainly nothing to write home about. He made just nine starts last season and the campaign before that failed at Atletico Madrid.

Any deal would look to be a leap of faith and would require trust in Steve Walsh and his scouting team to pluck a diamond from the rough.