Manchester United 'target' £34.6m Jose Maria Gimenez swoop and more transfer rumours

Manchester United are preparing to offer £34.6million for Atletico Madrid defender Jose Maria Gimenez when the market reopens - according to reports.

Erik ten Hag and his recruitment team wanted to sign another centre-back option this summer. However, the club were prevented from doing that when England international Harry Maguire rejected his proposed transfer to West Ham - after United had accepted a bid worth around £30million.

Manchester Evening News understands United are, initially, planning to make four key signings next summer with two defenders currently on their radar. Reports from Spanish publication Nacional indicate the club might, also, be willing to bring forward their pursuit for a centre-back.

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Edmond Tapsoba has known admirers at Old Trafford and Jean-Clair Todibo has, also, been mooted as one option. However, as per the Nacional article, there might be "interest" from United in Gimenez, despite the Atletico player only just penning a contract extension at the La Liga club until 2028.

A fee around the £34million mark has been suggested. Gimenez, 28, has played 290 matches for Atletico since his transfer to the club a decade ago - winning two La Liga titles in the process.

Elsewhere, reports from Jornal de Noticias - via Sport Witness - indicate United are in the market for highly-rated Benfica midfielder Joao Neves. The 19-year-old defensive midfielder is, also, thought to have Juventus on red alert.

Neves has earned rave reviews for his performances with the Portuguese club. Juventus are claimed to have held discussions with his agent - a certain Jorge Mendes - already