Arsenal transfer news: Atletico Madrid defender Jose Gimenez is the latest in a line of defenders to be linked with desperate Arsenal

ARSENAL are desperate for a defender and another one has been linked to the club as Jose Gimenez is lined up as an alternative to Shkodran Mustafi. 

Mustafi's price tag is concerning Arsenal greatly and so they have a number of targets in mind if a deal cant be struck with the Spanish club.

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Uruguayan defender Gimenez of Atletico Madrid interests Arsenal according to the  but is valued at £40m and the price tag is stumbling block for the Gunners.

However the age of Gimenez proves an attractive option at only 21 years old.

Real Madrid were interested in the defender some months ago but Arsenal will have to cough up a serious amount of money to tempt him to the Emirates.

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A young, fast and strong defender, Gimenez played nearly 40 games for Atletico Madrid last season as Diego Simeone put his faith in the Uruguayan.

His style is exactly what Arsenal are lacking and if they can get him to partner Laurent Koscienly at the back they then have a very strong back four.

It's up to the Gunners now though to negotiate a deal that the Spanish giants will accept otherwise they will be in a race against time to complete a deal for a defender before August 31.

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Time is running out however for Arsenal to sign anybody in time for Saturday night's fixture away to champions Leicester.

Arsene Wenger will either have to rush back  Koscienly or risk the pairing of Callum Chambers and Rob Holding again.

After last Sundays second collapse at home to Liverpool the gunners are at risk of drifting away from their main rivals in the Premier League.

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It was evident Arsenal needed a new centre back before the injuries to new club captain Per Mertesacker and Gabriel.

Since their absence though Wenger has seemed to bulk at any price given to him when he enquires of a defenders availability.

The timing from the manager could not be worse as it leaves little time for clubs to find replacements themselves leaving them to expect a premium to be paid.