Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool are set to be involved in a transfer tussle with Manchester United for young Atletico Madrid defender Jose Gimenez this summer.
The Reds have a decent chance of qualification into the Champions League next season and they are desperate for some defensive additions to improve the squad and reports suggest that they have made an official approach for the Uruguayan defender for a move at the end of the season. So what will this Atletico Madrid outcast add to Anfield next season?
A centre back by trait, Gimenez is regarded as one of the best young talents in his position in world football at the moment but he has fallen out of favour under Diego Simeone at the Vicente Calderon this season. Even after putting in some impressive performances, Gimenez has just made nine La Liga appearances, just one of which came in the last two months.
He is now frustrated with his situation in the Spanish capital and could well be lured out of the club. His contract at the Calderon expires at the end of the next season and Atletico Madrid might be interested in listening to offers in the summer.
Though not the best passer around, Gimenez is an athletic and strong defender whose concentration is his biggest asset. He loves to throw himself around in the box to keep his goal away from danger while his pace makes him one of the quickest centre-backs in Europe at the moment.
His tackling and discipline in danger areas make him a reliable defender while his reluctance to hoof the ball forward will attract the German at Anfield.
Gimenez is by no means a ball playing defender but he is a smart customer who knows how to conduct himself in the box and he could, beyond doubt, be an inspiring partner to Joel Matip for Liverpool.
Though Dejan Lovren has been decent, he is far from a player who can win Liverpool the league and Gimenez should walk into the first team if he moves to Liverpool.
The Cameroon international at Anfield has been solid at the back showing great promise for the future and if he can get an able partner who is ready to do the dirty work, Liverpool will have their best defensive pairing since they lost Jamie Carragher a long time ago.
Though they are looking at Virgil van Dijk and his PL experience this summer, Gimenez, at 22 is also a superb option and coming at a slightly cheaper price and with less competition, the Uruguayan defender might be the first choice to partner Joel Matip next season. Do you think Liverpool should move for Jose Gimenez to hand him his first chance in England?
