Arsenal enter talks over £40m deal for Uruguay starlet

Arsenal have reportedly entered talks over signing Uruguay international defender Jose Gimenez this summer, according to The Daily Mail.

The Premier League side, who fell to a 4-3 defeat to Liverpool inside the Emirates Stadium on Sunday afternoon, have been linked with the highly-rated Atletico Madrid centre-half.

Photo: Offside / Marca.

The 21-year-old, who has 28 international caps for his country, scored one goal and provided one assist in 37 appearances in all competitions for the La Liga outfit last season.

Gimenez, who is valued at around £40m by the Spanish side, is wanted by Gunners boss Arsene Wenger following injuries to fellow centre-halves Gabriel and Per Mertesacker prior to the new 2016/17 campaign.

The report suggests that Arsenal have opened negotiations with Atletico over the potential sale of the Uruguayan starlet, who is said to have a release clause of £56m in his current deal.

Boss Wenger was forced to pair summer signing Rob Holding, from Bolton Wanderers, with Calum Chambers against Liverpool last weekend.