Wolves signing this Raul Jimenez compatriot with €30m release clause would be a smart move by Nuno Santo

Why Jesus Corona could be a good signing for Wolves

According to claims from Portuguese outlet Record (h/t Birmingham Mail), Wolves have been credited with an interest in Mexican winger Jesus Corona, who currently plies his trade with FC Porto.

Wolves’ Europa League rivals Inter Milan and Sevilla have also expressed an interest in the 27-year-old, who has a €30million release clause in his contract with Porto that runs until the summer of 2022. (Record h/t Birmingham Live)

As per the source, Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo is desperate to bring Corona to Molineux this summer, having previously worked with the winger during his managerial days at Porto.

Profile

Jesus Corona shot to prominence with Monterrey in Mexico before earning a move to Europe with Dutch club FC Twente back in 2013. The diminutive winger went on to score 13 times in 51 appearances before moving across the continent to join FC Porto in 2015 and has since progressed and leaps and bounds.

The 27-year-old has made 221 appearances for the Portuguese heavyweights, registering 28 goals and 55 assists in all competitions. Corona was in astonishing form throughout the 2019-20 campaign, amassing a remarkable tally of 4 goals and 21 assists in 51 appearances.

A full international for Mexico since 2014, Corona was a key part of the squad that won the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup and has also represented his nation at other major international tournaments, including two Copa America campaigns and the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Wolves’ attacking scenario

The arrival of Pedro Neto last summer followed by the acquisition of Daniel Podence from Olympiacos during the January window provided Wolves with some much-needed firepower down the wide areas. 

Both players chipped in with some quality performances in the Premier League while also playing a part in the club’s fairytale march to the quarterfinals of the Europa League. 

However, Adama Traore’s consistent form was perhaps the biggest positive from Wolves’ Premier League season. The ex-La Masia graduate racked up 4 goals and 9 assists in 37 PL outings, establishing himself as one of the most feared wingers in the English top-flight.

Raul Jimenez has shouldered the bulk of the goalscoring workload with 27 goals across all competitions in the delayed 2019-20 campaign, with Diogo Jota also contributing with 16 goals.

Why Corona could be handy for Wolves

Wolves aren’t really short of options down the wide areas but they will need to add more depth to their ranks if they are to improve on their 7th-place finish in the Premier League.

Nuno Santo’s brigade narrowly missed out on Europa League qualification, with Arsenal beating Chelsea in the FA Cup final, meaning they will not be playing as many fixtures next term as they did the last time around.

However, with PL fixtures set to come thick and fast following a delayed start to the 2020-21 campaign, Wolves need to make sure that they add more depth to their attack to cope with the challenge. 

To put things into perspective, Jesus Corona could be an excellent signing for the Midlands outfit, given his proven track record of goals and assists at FC Porto. Nuno Santo himself worked with the Mexican earlier in his managerial career so that should make it easier for the player to acclimatise to life in English football.

Plus, Corona is more than capable of slotting into a right-back or a wing-back role despite being an out-and-out winger by trade. Hence, Wolves could also afford to look at him as an alternative to Matt Doherty in the right wing-back role, considering that they don’t have a specialist back-up in that department.

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Verdict

Wolves need to show more ambition in the transfer market if they are to rub shoulders with the powerhouses in the Premier League and a move for Jesus Corona could be a step in the right direction. 

At 27, the Mexican still has plenty of years remaining in his prime, and Nuno’s reunion with his former Porto star seems like an absolute no-brainer.