Atletico Madrid defender Jose Gimenez, who is on the radar of Manchester United and Liverpool, is reportedly keen on a move to the Red Devils in the summer.
Manchester Evening News are claiming that Atletico Madrid defender Jose Gimenez, who has been on the radar of Manchester United for a while now, is finally open and keen to move to Old Trafford in the summer.
Jose Gimenez arrived at Atletico Madrid in a low-money move from Danubio in July, 2013. The Uruguayan established himself as a regular at the back for Los Rojiblancos. But, this season has seen him being diminished to a squad rotation role, due to the form of Diego Godin and Stefan Savic.
This season, he has managed just 19 appearances in all competitions, with only 9 of them coming in La Liga; a huge contrast to last season, wherein he played a part in 27 of the 38 La Liga matches for Diego Simeone’s men.
He has missed a portion of the action due to a tear in the abductor muscle, which kept him out a considerable amount of time this season. But, even when fit, he has often played second fiddle to the central pairing of Savic and Godin.
GRAPHIC: Atletico Madrid with and without José Giménez starting in La Liga this season pic.twitter.com/4YW0ThrrRF
— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) March 29, 2017
Manchester United have been interested in the player for a long while now. Even in January, Mourinho had shortlisted Gimenez along with Lindelof. But, the Red Devils decided against pursuing either in the January transfer window.
However, as per the recent updates, Liverpool seemed to have joined the race, with Jurgen Klopp looking to add some steel to the defence, who has looked flailing in the Premier League thus far. Joel Matip has been the best defender for the Reds and Klopp is looking at Gimenez as a potential partner to the former Schalke man.
For United, Rojo and Phil Jones have mitigated the problems at centre-back, averting a potential crisis with their newfound form. However, in the long run, Mourinho is eyeing for an able partner for Eric Bailly in the centre of the defence and is likely to return in the summer to try and sign Gimenez.
Rumour ? – Liverpool are interested in signing Atletico Madrid defender Jose Gimenez. The player has a €45m release clause. [AS] #LFC pic.twitter.com/NncZBuZnrI
— Anything Liverpool (@Anything_LFC) March 23, 2017
Gimenez’s deal is due to expire in 2018 but his contract includes a release clause of £56 million, an amount that neither of the parties are likely to want to pay for a player who has just over a year left on his contract.
However, the report of the Uruguayan being keen on a move to Manchester United is likely to hand the Red Devils an advantage over their long-term historic rivals in the pursuit of Gimenez, who could become the third Uruguayan – Diego Forlan and Guillermo Varela being the other two – to don the Red Devils jersey.
Mourinho is reported to be set to delve into the transfer market for a centre-back, a central midfielder and a winger. And Gimenez could very well be on the Portuguese’s summer wishlist.
