Manchester City have reportedly set their sights on Atletico Madrid defender Jose Maria Gimenez over a summer move.
According to Fichajes, Manchester City are ready to further strengthen their squad ahead of the new season by signing a new central defender. Jose Maria Gimenez is believed to be one of their top targets, with Pep Guardiola keen on adding more competition to the current set of centre-backs.
Manchester City have completed the capture of Erling Haaland and Julian Alvarez this summer. But Guardiola is now looking to upgrade his ranks in the defensive unit by targeting an experienced star like Gimenez.
Currently plying his trade at Atletico Madrid, Gimenez has been a star performer in La Liga over the years. A centre-back by trade, the 27-year-old Uruguayan international is known for his aggressive approach and a dogged defensive mentality that has made him a huge success under the tutelage of Diego Simeone.
Having featured in almost 250 competitive matches for Atletico Madrid, Gimenez also brings ample experience to the table. It makes him an appealing target for Manchester City, who are currently looking for defensive reinforcements in the summer.
In John Stones, Aymeric Laporte, Ruben Dias and Nathan Ake, Manchester City have no less than four quality options at centre-back. But Ake has struggled to live up to the expectations and has been recently linked with a move to Newcastle United.
It is also fair to point out that Manchester City are set to lose out on Fernandinho. The Brazilian is a holding midfielder, but his ability to slot in at centre-back from time to time had made him an integral part of Guardiola’s rotation policy. But with Fernandinho and Ake likely to leave the Etihad camp in the summer, the addition of a new defender should be a priority for Manchester City.
That is where Jose Maria Gimenez comes into the fray. The 27-year-old Uruguayan international offers an ideal mix of aggression, leadership and experience to the table. Although his lack of technical prowess could be an issue, he can more than make up for it with his ability to shut out opposition attackers.
The report suggests Gimenez is valued at €50 million in the market. But Atletico Madrid are likely to demand a higher sum as the defender’s contract at Wanda Metropolitano does not expire until 2025. With that in mind, it will be interesting to see whether Manchester City break the bank to sign the Atleti centre-back this summer.
Yes please