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Manchester City Make Huge €89 Million Bid For Jose Gimenez

Manchester City Make Huge €89 Million Bid For Jose Gimenez

Pep Guardiola wants to add a centre back to his squad and it looks like they've moved on from Kalidou Koulibaly.

Ryan Sidle

Ryan Sidle

Manchester City seem to have moved on from Kalidou Koulibaly as their primary transfer target this summer, with reports that they've made a huge bid for Jose Gimenez.

Pep Guardiola has been desperate to add another centre back to his squad to line up alongside Aymeric Laporte, after signing Nathan Ake earlier this summer, and Napoli's Koulibaly has long been the number one target.

City haven't seen any movement on negotiations, with the Italian club wanting a huge fee for the 29-year-old, and now it looks like they have a new target.

According to Spanish outlet AS, the Premier League side have offered €89 million for Atletico Madrid centre back Gimenez, with another €5 million due in add ons.

That is thought to be more than City were willing to bid for Koulibaly but with the Atleti defender four years the junior of the Senegal international the club may be willing to offer more for him.

Jimenez has been important for Atleti. Image: PA Images
Jimenez has been important for Atleti. Image: PA Images

The report says that the 25-year-old has a release clause of €120 million and in the past the club have had no interest in selling and would point towards the clause.

However in the current situation it's believed that Atleti CEO Miguel Angel Gil Marin is expected to at least consider the current offer on the table.

Last summer City did pay a release clause for an Atleti player, as they paid €70 million for midfielder Rodri, with Diego Simeone unable to convince the player to stay in the Spanish capital, something he may have to try again with Gimenez this year.

Koulibaly is a long term target for City. Image: PA Images
Koulibaly is a long term target for City. Image: PA Images

City were without Laporte for much of last season, due to injury, and in his absence John Stones, Nicolas Otamendi, Eric Garcia and Fernandinho all played some role in central defence, with limited success.

The signing of Ake, from relegated Bournemouth, has given Guardiola more cover in the back, especially on the left side, but if the club are to regain the league title, and compete in Europe, it's clear he needs more quality at the back.

As well as Koulibaly and Gimenez, City have also been linked to Manchester United target Dayot Upamecano, after the RB Leipzig defender impressed in last season's Champions League.

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: Manchester City, Football News, Pep Guardiola, Serie A, Transfer stories, Atletico Madrid, Transfer rumours, Premier League, Transfer news, Kalidou Koulibaly, Transfer reports