The Manchester United manager is plotting a complete defensive overhaul, with Atletico’s £56m centre-back as the prime target.
Jose Mourinho has endured a tough start to life at Manchester, with only four wins out of ten leagues games, which has resulted in the team languishing at the eighth spot, eight points behind league leaders and cross-town rivals, Manchester City.
Jose Mourinho’s sides are well-known for their defensive organization and shape, but his Manchester United have been a bit of an contrast, having conceded 11 goals in their last 7 Premier League games.
English daily newspaper, Daily Mail, had reported a few days back that the manager isn’t satisfied with the defensive options available at his disposal at the club, and hence is planning to overhaul the whole back-line. The report claimed one of the targets of the club was AS Roma’s 23-year-old centre-back, Antonio Rudiger.
On similar lines, another English outlet, The Mirror, has claimed Mourinho has identified Atletico Madrid’s highly rated defender Jose Gimenez to be the one to bolster the back-line. The Uruguayan has a £56 million release clause, but the manager will have the full-backing of the club in the transfer market.
The 21-year-old defender made his debut for Atletico Madrid in 2013, and had a break-through year in the following season, emerging as one of the best defensive prospects in the world. By the age of 20, he had already become one Atletico’s most integral players, forming an excellent partnership with fellow international team-mate Diego Godin.
Jose Gimenez is blessed with excellent ball-playing skills to complement his solid defensive attributes which makes him a complete defender even at the age of 21. The defender has already been capped by the Uruguay national team on 30 occasions.
No wonder, Barcelona have shown a keen interest in the player, and now Jose Mourinho has made the Uruguayan a top priority for the club. Even if signing him in January looks out of the question, a bid next summer looks certainly on the cards.
