Arsenal have now made bid to sign 26-year-old star who has the same agent as Arteta – report
According to 90min, Arsenal are in talks with Benfica to sign Alejandro ‘Alex’ Grimaldo this summer, and the Gunners have already tabled a bid to sign him.
Mikel Arteta’s side are on the lookout for a left-sided defender in this window. Ajax star Lisandro Martinez is reportedly the priority target in that position, but it looks like Manchester United are the favourites to sign him now.
Arsenal need to bring in someone to provide cover for Kieran Tierney. Nuno Tavares is a fantastic young prospect, but his inexperience showed in the second half of last season, and the Gunners want to send him away on loan next term to help him develop.
That makes a new left-back an absolute necessity this summer, and Grimaldo seems like the man Arteta and Edu are going after now.
Arsenal have bid to sign Alejandro Grimaldo
The report claims that Arsenal have entered talks to sign Grimaldo, who has less than a year left on his deal.
His contract situation means that he will be available for a bargain fee, and Arsenal have made the first move with a bid of just £6 million – less than a quarter of what the Gunners paid for Kieran Tierney three years ago.
Grimaldo, who has made it clear to Benfica that he will not sign a new contract, has been made to train alone during pre-season. He’s ready to leave this summer and Arsenal are trying to take advantage of the situation.
Edu must have a decent relationship with Benfica having negotiated a deal with them last summer for another left-back – Tavares. That could help get this deal over the line.
Grimaldo and Arteta share the same agents
Edu was initially criticised by Arsenal fans and the media for relying on his contacts with agents to get deals done. Those moans have quietened since Willian left the Emirates, but it could be Arteta this time who could use his contacts to get this deal done.
Grimaldo is represented by Wasserman, the agency that represents popular footballers like Aymeric Laporte, Federico Valverde, Joe Gomez and plenty of other big names in the sport.
What helps Arsenal is that the agency also represents Arteta, who negotiated a new contract with the Gunners just a few months ago.
If Arsenal really want Grimaldo, they should be able to get him this summer without too much trouble.
