LaLiga: Is an Atletico star really heading to the Premier League on a free transfer?

We’re within touching distance of December and our attention quickly switches to Christmas. The time of giving. Or the time of wanting stuff we don’t need or can’t afford. You enter negotiations with your other half in order to resolve where the lunch will be. Then it’s about deciding who is going to make what, if you have enough chairs, and slowly beginning to hate Christmas songs. Oh, and the re-emergence of transfer gossip columns.

A key talking point, even now, is the availability of so many top players on pre-contract agreements from January. Lionel Messi removed himself from the equation as he penned fresh terms at Barcelona. This only being made official after the club spent more time than a high maintenance bride-to-be picking out the official photographer. But there are still some big names ‘available’ for nothing – or on the cheap – in January.

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Arsenal remain in deep negotiations with Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez to avoid losing both for nothing next summer. Leon Goretzka could be heading to the Premier League after impressing at Schalke. Another Bundesliga star, Maximilian Meyer, is also proving a tempting proposition for Premier League sides. And from LaLiga, the biggest name appears to Jose Maria Gimenez.

Gimenez is like a mini-Simeone

When Gimenez signed for Atletico Madrid it made sense for him to be the heir to Diego Godin’s throne. “I like to go for every ball as if it’s my last.” An attitude which embodies the mindset Diego Simeone instils upon his players. In fact, Simeone was a key reason behind his move to Atletico.

“Simeone is a great coach. I love how he ‘lives’ for each match.”

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Despite his young age at the time of signing for Atletico – he was just 18 – Gimenez wasn’t short of confidence. “I’m seasoned and love to leave everything out on the pitch.” If you are going to succeed at one of the biggest teams in Europe, you need to believe you can make a difference.

In Simeone you find a coach who will do everything in his power to make sure you have at least the opportunity to stake a claim for first team football. He won’t promise you success, or regular minutes, but he will help those who ask for and need it.

Trying to dislodge the best defensive partnership in Europe was difficult

Gimenez faced the difficult task of trying to dislodge one of Godin or Joao Miranda from the centre back slots. The pairing were the foundation which Simeone’s title-winning side was built around. Gimenez needed to be patient, to bide his time and continue to learn whenever the chance presented itself.

In the following seasons it became clear that Gimenez had the talent to succeed at the very top and he was gradually handed more and more responsibility. He first ousted Toby Alderweireld from the pecking order and later Miranda. The self-confidence of the player was key in all of this.

When speaking to Radio MARCA back in 2015, we got a brief insight to the mindset of what makes Gimenez tick. “I’m not a patient person but I knew that I had to develop alongside these professionals. I needed to be sufficiently patient so it didn’t affect me mentally. (I didn’t want to think about) going on loan to another team, or not playing.”

Even when Gimenez wasn’t on the pitch as often as he would’ve liked, he still felt like Atletico was the best place to be. “The coach taught me a massive amount so that I could go to the World Cup (in 2014).” And alongside Simeone, fellow countryman Godin has played a vital role in the young defender’s progression.

Gimenez wants to keep learning from Godin

“Godin, to me, is a mirror (example) of how to be as a footballer and professional. I’ve learnt so much from him. I’d been lucky enough to play alongside one of the best central defenders in the world.” There’s a desire to reach the top as soon as possible. This is combined with a maturity rarely seen in young players, a testament to the ‘teachers’ he’s worked with.

The speculation surrounding Gimenez’s future is nothing new but potential suitors are feeling more optimistic this time around. Gimenez hasn’t featured in over 50% of Atletico’s matches so far this season and when he has, it’s been in a variety of positions. Aside from being a centre back he’s also comfortable playing as a full-back and in central midfield. That adaptability makes him a vital squad member but it also means he’s unable to nail down a specific position either.

Would Gimenez fit in at Tottenham?

In many ways he’s similar to Eric Dier in that his versatility can be as much of a blessing as it is a curse. And it’s Dier’s team, Tottenham Hotspur, who are reportedly keen on bringing the Uruguayan to the Premier League. Maybe to free up Dier from filling in at centre back and moving the Englishman further forward.

The signing of Gimenez would fit in with what Mauricio Pochettino looks for in potential signings. He values current ability but also the scope for improvement. Like Simeone, Pochettino doesn’t have the funds to buy established stars but instead invests time to create ones of his own. Could the chance of more regular minutes in England appeal to Gimenez?

The signing of Gimenez would cast further doubt over the future of Alderweireld. This is the same man he surpassed at Atletico and who continues to stall over new contract talks. Pochettino can be quite ruthless as we saw with Kyle Walker – and Danny Rose. He isn’t afraid to make a stand if he needs to. Davinson Sanchez is already a key member of the team just four months into his time at Tottenham.

While Gimenez can play at full-back, he wouldn’t be a good fit in that role for Spurs’ current system. However as a holding midfielder, following Victor Wanyama’s injury problems, he could slot in and offer a shield to a rock solid back line. This is where he’s been playing in the last couple of matches for Atletico too.

There is some bad news though.

Gimenez’s contract runs out in 2020, not 2018

Similar to Messi’s protracted contact negotiations, sources in Madrid believe Gimenez signed a new deal with Atletico last year. However, there was no official confirmation from the club. Quite what the benefit of doing that would be remains a mystery. One theory is they are already trying to improve his ‘new’ deal.

In that new contract, which runs until 2020, it only has a €60m buyout clause. At the time this was a sum which would wade off interest from the biggest sides, but the environment has changed drastically since then. €60m, when so few quality defenders are available, is looking cheaper by the day.

However, Simeone wouldn’t want to keep a player whose desire is to leave. This means that the door is always open should Gimenez ask for an exit. The fact he’s still behind Stefan Savic might be a key factor in the player considering the options available to him in January.

It’s hard to envisage Tottenham spending upwards of €45m to land another centre back when they are already well stocked in that area.

The same cannot be said of Liverpool who desperately need to raise the quality of their defensive options. And we all know that even matching the release clause of €60m wouldn’t be an issue.

Atletico are expecting to field calls for Gimenez this January but it would need to be a huge offer for them to even consider letting the Uruguayan go.