Although there’s a small chance we’ll reignite our interest in Southampton’s Virgil van Dijk towards the end of the transfer window, we’ve publicly pulled out of a deal and are surely considering other options should the Dutchman prove unattainable.
One name consistently linked has been Atletico Madrid’s Jose Gimenez, the 22-year-old Uruguayan who’s starred in Spain since arriving from Danubio in his homeland in 2013.
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The stocky central defender has developed exceptionally under Diego Simeone, but actually lost his place in the side to Stefan Savic last term and could seek a move to guarantee first-team football.
England appears his favourite potential destination:
“I dream of playing in the Premier League because the games are very even. I would like to go [to England],” he told Direct TV, translated by Football Fan Cast.
Manchester United have been linked but have already signed Victor Lindelof this summer, while Chelsea are pursuing Antonio Rudiger and closing on a deal. Gimenez is valued at £23.8m by Transermarkt and would be much cheaper than van Dijk.
He doesn’t have the wealth of experience we’re perhaps after, but has experienced the latter rounds of the Champions League and in terms of talent, has a very high ceiling.