Manchester United have reportedly joined Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur in the race to sign Atletico Madrid defender Jose Maria Gimenez.
According to Uruguayan publication Tenfield, Manchester United are set to battle it out with Premier League rivals Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur for the signing of Atletico Madrid mainstay Jose Maria Gimenez this summer.
Gimenez has been with Atletico Madrid for nine years, having joined the club as a teenager from Uruguayan outfit Danubio. The 27-year-old has grown into a permanent fixture at the heart of the Rojiblancos defence over the years, amassing 247 appearances and winning two La Liga titles and the UEFA Europa League.
The 2021/22 campaign was difficult for Gimenez as he had to deal with multiple injury problems, which restricted him to just 23 La Liga appearances. Even though his contract with the Colchoneros runs until the summer of 2025, the club’s financial situation could see them cash in on the Uruguayan international, with three Premier League clubs in Manchester United, Chelsea and Tottenham interested.
Manchester United are looking to bolster their defensive ranks this summer after a dismal 2021/22 campaign which saw them finish outside the top four. Efforts were made to sign Jurrien Timber from AFC Ajax but the Dutchman is set to stay put in the Eredivisie, forcing the Red Devils to look at other options.
With Phil Jones, Eric Bailly, and Axel Tuanzebe expected to leave, a new centre-back is needed for Erik ten Hag, especially considering the inconsistent performances of Victor Lindelof and Harry Maguire. Gimenez, at 27, is in the peak years of his career and has the requisite experience at the highest level for Manchester United to push for his signing.
However, Manchester United will have to battle Chelsea and Tottenham for the signing of Gimenez. Chelsea’s need for new defenders is well-established at this point. With the Blues losing Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen, they are left short on numbers and quality at the back and need to bring in at least two new centre-halves to support the ageing Thiago Silva.
Matthijs de Ligt is Chelsea’s priority target for the summer, with a possibility of a player-plus-cash deal with Juventus under consideration. However, it bodes well for the Blues to keep their options open and Gimenez would be a more than able alternative for Chelsea if they fail to sign their top targets.
Tottenham have also been on the lookout for new defensive signings this summer and are closing in on the loan capture of Clement Lenglet from Barcelona. However, with Japhet Tanganga and Joe Rodon set to depart and Davinson Sanchez’s future uncertain, Spurs could be left with only Eric Dier, Cristian Romero, Ben Davies and Lenglet as options.
So, Antonio Conte will likely need to add more depth to his defensive roster, given his penchant to use a three-man backline. To that end, Gimenez can be a more than handy player to have in the squad for the Italian tactician. With Chelsea and Manchester United also in the race, it will be interesting to see if any of the three clubs make a strong push to sign Gimenez.
