In a recent report, The Athletic has mentioned that Chelsea are hoping to seal a summer move for Atletico Madrid defender Jose Gimenez. It has been reported that the Uruguayan centre-back has been on the Blues’ radar since 2016, and now, Thomas Tuchel has identified him as one of the many defensive options he has lined up for the summer transfer window (via The Athletic).
Gimenez’s Injury-Prone Campaign At The Spanish Capital
The Toledo-born has experienced an injury-plagued season at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium as he has missed several matches because of multiple injuries. Gimenez has taken part in 17 matches for the Spanish club this term, netting one goal and picking up four yellow cards in multiple competitions.
Despite his lack of game time, the 26-year-old has done well to average 1.0 tackles, 1.0 interceptions, 2.8 clearances and 0.9 shots per game in La Liga and the UEFA Champions League this season. He has interchanged possession quite well with his teammates after completing 87.2% of his attempted passes in both those competitions (stats via whoscored).
Gimenez is currently under contract at Atletico Madrid until the summer of 2023, so the Blues have to arrange a big-money move if they are serious about recruiting the Uruguayan centre-back during the summer transfer window.
What Will The Uruguayan Sensation Bring To Stamford Bridge?
Gimenez is a dominant presence inside his penalty area as he has got the strength to overpower the opposition and win some crucial aerial duels for his team. He can sense the danger quickly and is not shy of putting his foot through the ball to clear his lines when needed.
The 60-time Uruguay international can time his tackles well to secure the ball back for his team and is usually quite accurate with his passing from the back. However, there are some concerns over his long-term fitness following his poor run with injuries this season.
At 26, Gimenez is at his prime and has still got a lot of years left in him to play at top gear, so he could prove to be a massive coup for Chelsea if Thomas Tuchel can find a way to bring him to West London when the transfer window reopens later this year.
The Uruguayan talent could be an upgrade over any of Tuchel’s current options and would serve as a great replacement for Thiago Silva, who is in the twilight years of his playing career. Furthermore, Gimenez might help the Blues challenge for multiple trophies in the coming seasons which makes him a good fit for them in the long run.
