La Liga rumors: Real Madrid eyeing a move for €120m rated rival star 

What's the story?

According to Spanish media outlet AS, Real Madrid are keen to secure the services of Uruguayan centre-back Jose Gimenez from their bitter rivals Atletico Madrid.

It stated that beside Gimenez, Serie A star defender Kalidou Koulibaly is also on the radar of Los Blancos as the new manager Zinedine Zidane is a fan of the Napoli star.

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Known for his superior defensive abilities, Gimenez has shown his caliber for both Atletico Madrid and Uruguay against world class forwards. The 24-year-old centre-back has proven himself to be an asset for Diego Simeone's side in the past few seasons and remains a mainstay in Atletico Madrid's rearguard.

Gimenez was one of the key players for Atletico Madrid as they won the Europa League last season. The Uruguayan signed a new five-year deal in 2018 to extend his stay at the club, which saw his release clause jump to €120m.

Meanwhile, Kalidou Koulibaly has turned out to be one of the best defenders in the world due to his exploits with Napoli. The 27-year-old center back also renewed his deal which will expire in 2023.

Carlo Ancelotti was quick to fend off rumours surrounding the future of Napoli center-back. In an interview a few days back, Napoli boss said that Koulibaly is going nowhere.

The heart of the matter

There is no doubt that Real Madrid are desperate to bolster their squad with some much needed reinforcements after enduring a disappointing season. Moreover, Los Blancos' star defender Raphael Varane is reportedly seeking a change in scenery and heading towards an exit.

According to the report, Gimenez and Koulibaly are the two men which top Los Blancos' wishlist as they try to find a replacement of Varane. While Zidane himself prefers Koulibaly, Florentino Perez has been a fan of Giminez and made contact last December.

Rumour rating: 6.5/10

With both the players are currently in a long term contract with their respective clubs and the clubs adamant to not let their player go, it remains to be seen how Florentino Perez acts.

AS remains a reliable source when it comes to Spanish football and it is likely that Real Madrid will reinforce their squad.

What's next?

Real Madrid will face Valencia while Atletico take on Girona next in La Liga.