According to a recent report by AS, Wolverhampton Wanderers have been offered both Daniele Rugani and Federico Bernardeschi by Juventus as they hope to reduce the £54m asking price for Raul Jimenez this summer. The same source has also claimed that the Turin giants have joined the race for the Mexican international and are planning to swap two players in a bid to lower Wolves’ price-tag for their prized asset.
The lure of two promising players will make it appealing for Wolves to entertain the Italian outfit’s offer for Jimenez this summer. However, Nuno Espirito Santo will find it difficult to give up the Mexican striker following his terrific record of 23 goals and ten assists in 45 matches for the West Midlands club so far in this campaign.
The Recent Frustrations Of Rugani and Bernardeschi In Italian Football
In contrast, both Rugani and Bernardeschi have endured a frustrating season at the Allianz Stadium after struggling to find consistency with their performances in the Serie A. Rugani has only made seven appearances for Juve this term while averaging 1.0 tackles, 1.2 interceptions and 4.6 clearances per game in the Italian top-flight and the UEFA Champions League (stats via whoscored). Despite his impressive defensive contributions, he has struggled to earn regular first-team starts which have hampered his career in Italy.
Similarly, Bernardeschi has also experienced a difficult campaign as he has scored just one goal and grabbed two assists in 27 appearances for Juve over the past ten months. Hence, it is no wonder that the Serie A leaders are planning to ship both players out in exchange for a prolific striker like Jimenez.
What Will The Italian Pair Bring To The Molineux Stadium?
On his day, Rugani can be a reliable defensive presence at the back as he tends to read the danger quickly that allows him to make some crucial interceptions and last-gasp clearances for his side. However, the lack of first-team football has taken a toll on his overall game which will be a cause for concern for any of his potential suitors ahead of the new season.
Bernardeschi is a highly versatile midfielder who can make some darting runs down the right flank and is not shy of working hard out on the wide areas. However, he has struggled to be productive in the final third this season which could be why Juve are prepared to use him as a bargaining chip to land Jimenez during the summer transfer period.
Why Nuno Espirito Santo Should Not Allow This Deal To Happen
Comparatively, Jimenez has been nothing short of a success story at the Molineux since making a switch from Benfica back in 2018. He has been excellent as the focal point of Nuno Espirito Santo’s attack over the past 18 months. Therefore, the Wolves boss should not entertain Juventus’s players plus cash offer for Jimenez.
The West Midlands giants should try their best to keep hold of the Mexican international beyond this summer as he has the skillset and experience to help Wolves compete for some major trophies in the coming seasons.
