According to reports in Portugal, Arsenal have submitted a bid to sign Benfica left-back Alex Grimaldo this summer. The Gunners made an inquiry earlier this month for the Spanish defender over a potential move to the Emirates Stadium in this transfer window.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is keen on bolstering his backline ahead of the new season and is desperately searching for a left-back. The Gunners struggled on the left-flank last season with an injury-prone Kieran Tierney and an inexperienced Nuno Tavares. The Spanish manager is looking forth for a versatile defender who would cover at the left-back position.
The North London side first showcased an interest in Ajax’s Lisandro Martinez, who was the primary defensive target for the club. However, they are facing strong competition from Manchester United over the signature of the Argentinian defender. Nevertheless, Arteta is calm about the situation and is exploring his options before he kick-starts the 2022-23 campaign.
As relayed by Portuguese news outlet Record (via Metro) last week, Arsenal launched an inquiry to sign Alex Grimaldo from Benfica this summer. The Gunners have made contact with the player’s representatives to discuss a possible move for the left-back. The report states that a fee of around €6-7m could convince the Portuguese club.
Now, according to The Sun, Arsenal have submitted a first bid of £5.9m (€7m) to sign Alex Grimaldo. Given the chance of leaving for free next summer with just a year remaining on his contract, Benfica might be willing to accept the offer.
A former Barcelona and Valencia academy graduate, the 26-year-old joined Portuguese champions Benfica in 2016. Since then, he has been a mainstay at the club, making over 200 appearances. The Spaniard netted six goals and provided nine assists in 47 appearances (stats via Transfermarkt) across all competitions during the 2021-22 season.
🚨 BREAKING: Arsenal have now submitted a €7m offer for Benfica left-back Àlex Grimaldo 🇪🇸 and are set to intensify negotiations over the coming weeks.🔴 #AFC #SLB
— Football Transfers (@Transferzone00) July 10, 2022
Mikel Arteta’s side are eager to solidify their left-back department and are pushing to secure the signature of the Spanish full-back. Apart from Arsenal, the 26-year-old has caught the attention of multiple clubs, including Barcelona and Newcastle United.
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Arteta has the services of Tierney and Tavares at his disposal. But injuries and inconsistent performances have added up to the team’s struggles during the last season which eventually led to them missing out on a Champions League spot. If the Gunners are thinking of staying committed to the UEFA Europa League next season, then adding another player to the left-back position will do no harm.
Alex Grimaldo moving to Arsenal outfit cannot be ruled out, especially when Arteta is keen on adding depth to the backline. But it would be rather difficult to predict if the defender desires to join the Premier League club and link up with his former Benfica teammate, Tavares.
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