Barcelona and Manchester City will reportedly need to cough up €20 million to sign Spanish full-back Alejandro Grimaldo from Benfica.
According to a report by Spanish publication MARCA, Barcelona and Manchester City are keen on signing Alejandro Grimaldo in the summer transfer window. Benfica will demand €20 million to part ways with the Spanish full-back, with Newcastle United and Juventus also hot on his heels.
Alejandro Grimaldo has been one of the most consistent left-backs in Europe since joining Benfica from Barcelona half a dozen years ago. The 26-year-old has a solid record of 19 goals and 50 assists in 246 appearances for the Portuguese giants.
A product of Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy, the Spanish full-back is approaching the prime years of his career. But Grimaldo faces an uncertain future at Benfica after entering the final year of his contract with the Portuguese club. And such a situation has captured the attention of several European bigwigs, including Barcelona and Manchester City, with Benfica demanding €20 million.
Marco Alonso is Barcelona’s priority target for the left-back spot this summer. But recent reports have claimed that Chelsea will block a move for the Spanish full-back, with relations between the two clubs souring in the wake of the Jules Kounde transfer saga. And with Jordi Alba well into his thirties, Xavi Hernandez needs an alternative to the veteran defender.
Grimaldo is thus a viable target for Barcelona, with the Blaugrana seriously considering him as an option for the summer. But the Catalan giants need to fend off stiff competition from Manchester City to secure the services of the 26-year-old defender this summer.
Intermediaries had recently offered Manchester City the chance to sign Grimaldo. And the Premier League champions are now weighing up signing the Spanish full-back from Benfica, with their pursuit of Marc Cucurella running into troubled waters. Cucurella is Manchester City’s priority left-back target, but his price tag is forcing them to consider alternatives like Grimaldo.
Neither Manchester City nor Barcelona should have any qualms about forking out €20 million to secure the services of Grimaldo. But the two European heavyweights will also have to battle Juventus and Newcastle United in the race to sign him. An intriguing transfer saga beckons.
