Chelsea target Jose Gimenez to bolster defense

Chelsea manager Frank Lampard has added Atletico Madrid’s Jose Maria Gimenez to his list of summer targets, reports in England say.

After identifying his backline as the weakest link of the team, Lampard has taken an interest in Jose Gimenez as part of his bid to reinforce his defensive options.

No team from the upper half of the Premier League table shipped more goals than Chelsea in 2019/20. Indeed, a tally of 54 goals league conceded is something the Englishman is not prepared to overlook.

In addition to Leicester City’s Ben Chilwell, who remains the Blues’ top target for the left-back position, Lampard will now try to snatch the Uruguayan center-back.

According to Football Insider, Gimenez’s name currently features on Chelsea’s wish-list close to the top after their pursuit of West Ham’s Declan Rice came a cropper.

The Hammers are determined to retain their rising star and have, therefore, slapped a whopping £80million price tag over Rice‘s head.

Since West Ham already made it clear their valuation is non-negotiable, Chelsea have opted to search for alternatives.

Gimenez, who has popped up as the newest possibility, has a release clause of £110million.

But, the Premier League giants are reportedly hopeful they can close the deal on a £60million basis despite Diego Simeone’s efforts to keep the 25-year-old at the Wanda Metropolitano.

Widely-regarded as one of the best defenders in La Liga, Gimenez has been nothing short of outstanding since cementing his place in Simeone’s starting line-up.

While enjoying a rise to the stardom in the Spanish capital, the former Danubio academy graduate has registered over 200 appearances for the Spanish powerhouse.