West Ham United's Europa League flop has cost them the signing of Atletico Madrid striker Raul Jimenez.

The Mexico international has seen 50 per cent of his registration bought out by Benfica, where he will stay this new season.

Raul was expected to sign for West Ham last week after being granted a UK work permit, but agent Jorge Mendes was forced to act following their Europa League elimination.

AS says Mendes persuaded him to accept Benfica's offer after seeing as the Hammers had been knocked out of the Europa League by Romanian outfit Astra on Thursday night. Benfica, meanwhile, are in the Champions League.

West Ham boss Slaven Bilić had mentioned that the Londoners were “very close" to signing the Mexican last week.