New Brexit rules 'will stop Wolves from signing Hulk next month' due to work permit criteria

Wolverhampton Wanderers will not be able to sign Hulk as a back-up option to Raul Jimenez next month due to new Brexit rules, according to reports.

Nuno Espirito Santo's side are on the lookout for a replacement forward after Jimenez fractured his skull against Arsenal last month and is expected to miss much of the remainder of the season.

Veteran striker Hulk, 34, becomes a free agent in January and the Midlands club have looked into signing the Brazilian winger - who currently plays for Chinese club Shanghai SIPG.

But according to The Athletic, Hulk would not qualify for a work permit under the new Brexit rules which begin on January 1 - the same day as the opening of the winter transfer window.

From next month, any potential incoming Premier League player coming from abroad must meet a points-system in order to gain a permit to play in England.

Points are built up via their recent international experience, their game time at their previous club and the quality of the league they are joining from.

As Hulk currently plays in China, he will have fewer points than players coming in from the major European leagues such as LaLiga in Spain, Serie A in Italy and Ligue 1 in France. Furthermore, the 34-year-old has not represented his native Brazil in four years.

The same report says that Wolves already had doubts about signing Hulk due to his high wages in China, plus the Molineux club had concerns about his age.

But Wolves are in desperate need of some attacking reinforcements this summer after scoring just 11 goals in a dozen Premier League games.

With Jimenez expected to be sidelined for a long period of time, a lot of pressure falls on 18-year-old striker Fabio Silva, who joined from FC Porto for £35million over the summer.

According to The Sun, Wolves have also identified Venezuelan forward Salomon Rondon as a potential replacement for the injured Jimenez.

While the 31-year-old, who played for West Brom and Newcastle between 2015 and 2019, also plays his club football in China, his work permit points may be slightly higher due to his international experience for Venezuela.

The 6ft 2 in forward is a key member of his national side and played in both of his country's international fixtures in November. Over the past 12 months, Rondon has started five games for his country which boost his chances of getting a permit.