BBC Sport pundit Stephen Warnock has been left blown away by the transformation of Raul Jimenez at Wolves this season as he names the 27-year-old as a candidate for player of the season.
The Mexican hitman arrived at Molineux on an initial season-long loan, his temporary deal being turned permanent before the end of the campaign after 16 goals in 39 appearances across all competitions.
Having only netted six of those goals before the turn of the year, Warnock has heralded his transformation into a lethal hitman.
Delivering his six players as candidates for BBC Sport‘s Premier League player of the season, he said: “I like quite a few Wolves players too but Raul Jimenez has been unreal. In the first half of the season he was getting in positions but not finishing the chances, but that all changed after Christmas.”
Opinion
Jimenez has taken his game to another level in 2019 and it is no wonder that Wolves were quick to snap up a permanent deal. There would surely have been other sides sniffing around for the Mexican ace had they left it until the summer to get a deal done, but instead it will be the Molineux faithful enjoying his performances in front of goal for years to come. Does he deserve to be included among the best six players this season? That might be a little stretch – after all, as Warnock says, his first half the season was nothing special – but in terms of most improved players he is definitely up there. There will be questions as to whether he is a one season wonder but considering the way he has grown, it would come as no surprise to see him hit new heights yet again after the summer.