Who is Jesus Corona? The latest Primeira Liga star linked with a move to Wolves

Wolves have had great success picking up players from Portugal

Over the last three years, Wolverhampton Wanderers’ transfer strategy has focused predominantly on Portuguese players.

With the influence of manager Nuno Espirito Santo and superagent Jorge Mendes shining through, Wolves have signed a clutch of players from the Primeira Liga.

And it has worked wonderfully well. Ruben Neves and Diogo Jota played key roles as the Black Country side achieved promotion back to the Premier League in 2018, while the additions of Rui Patricio and Joao Moutinho have proven invaluable during their time back in the top flight.

Of course, while he isn’t Portuguese, Raul Jimenez has also made a major impact since arriving from Benfica in 2018, with the Mexican netting 44 times in 99 games.

Wolves have adopted a similar strategy this summer. Fabio Silva, an exciting 18-year-old striker, has joined from Porto for a club-record £36.5m, while 20-year-old midfielder Vitinha has also arrived from the Portuguese champions.

And, according to O Jogo , Wolves are chasing another Portugal-based player in Jimenez’s Mexican compatriot Jesus Corona, with Porto said to have rejected a £22m bid for the player.

But who is he and what has he done in his career so far? Let’s have a look.

After starting his professional career in his native Mexico with Monterrey, Corona moved to the Netherlands with FC Twente in 2013.

Following an impressive second season in the Eredivisie in which he scored nine goals in 27 league games, Corona joined Porto on a four-year deal at the start of the 2015/16 season.

Having already forged a reputation as a skilful winger with a penchant for spectacular goals, the Mexico international has not disappointed during his five years in Portugal.

Overall, he has scored 21 goals and added 23 assists while playing in a variety of positions including left wing, right wing and both full-back positions.

Comfortable on both feet, Corona’s versatility has made him a significant asset for Porto, who have won the league title in two out of the last three seasons.

Last season, the 27-year-old enjoyed his most productive season in terms of direct goal contributions with four goals and 15 assists in all competitions.

A real livewire on the wing, he averaged 7.27 attempted dribbles per 90 in all competitions last season, according to Wyscout’s data. In the Primeira Liga, he topped the rankings with 6.75 attempted dribbles, managing a 50 per cent success rate. In the last year, seven of his dribbles have led to goals for Porto in the league.

He also averaged 2.7 progressive runs and was frequently creating chances for his teammates, with 1.32 shot assists per game.

In the 2019/20 Primeira Liga, in addition to dribbles, he ranked inside the top 10 for progressive runs, offensive duels, deep completed crosses, shots and deep completion (passes received within 20 metres of the opponent’s goal line), while he was 11th in shot assists.

Having excelled in a wide range of different areas, it is no surprise to hear that Wolves have been tracking the 42-time Mexico international, who made two substitute appearances at the 2018 World Cup.

While several of Corona’s assists involve a darting run down the wing and a squared ball into the box, he has been known to pop up in central areas, where he can best showcase his ability to thread a perfectly weighted through ball in behind an opponent’s defence.

On the ball, he is a breath of fresh air, willing to take on defenders and confuse them with his speed and agility. While he is more than capable of beating his marker in a foot race down the flank, he often cuts inside and eludes challenges before creating a chance or taking a shot from a central position.

While his attacking output is impressive, Corona is a diligent presser and a tenacious operator, the kind of hardened competitor with which Santo has flooded his squad in recent years.

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As a gifted dribbler and proficient creator, he seems a strong candidate to fill the void left at right wing-back following Matt Doherty’s departure to Tottenham Hotspur.

Alternatively, he would be just as - if not more - effective further up, on either wing in a 3-4-3.

While Wolves pursuing another Porto player may seem laughably predictable at this point, the Corona links make a lot of sense. With Santo in need of cover on the right-hand side of his system, this fleet-footed Mexican may become the latest intriguing addition in what is turning out to be an impressive transfer window for the West Midlands club.