Arsenal will reportedly have to shell out a transfer fee of €7.5 million if they wish to sign Alex Grimaldo from SL Benfica this summer.

According to Portuguese publication Record (h/t Sport Witness), Arsenal have learnt how much it would cost them to sign Spanish left-back Alex Grimaldo from SL Benfica in the ongoing transfer window.

Grimaldo is a product of Barcelona’s famed La Masia youth academy. Having come through the ranks, he made close to 100 appearances for the Catalans’ B team but never featured for the senior side. In January 2016, the left-back joined Benfica in search of a faster path into first-team football, and the move has worked out well for him.

Grimaldo has been a permanent fixture on the left side of the Benfica defence for a long time, making 247 appearances in which he has 19 goals and 50 assists. A consistent performer for the Portuguese giants, the Spaniard was linked with a move back to Barcelona in January, but nothing came of it.

However, with Grimaldo entering the final year of his contract with Benfica and not looking like signing a new deal, the Eagles are considering selling the 26-year-old this summer to avoid losing him for nothing next year. 

Manchester City have discovered what they will need to fork out to land Benfica defender Alex Grimaldo this summer.
Grimaldo on Arsenal’s radar (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)

And Arsenal are among the clubs keeping tabs on Grimaldo’s situation. The Gunners are scouring the market for a new left-back after Nuno Tavares endured a difficult debut campaign in England. The Portuguese ace is likely to be allowed to move on this summer, with Arsenal looking to bring in an upgrade on him to compete with Kieran Tierney.

A move for versatile Ajax defender Lisandro Martinez has been touted but the Argentine international looks set to join Manchester United. So, someone like Grimaldo can be a viable target for Arsenal. The 26-year-old has been performing at a high level with Benfica for many years now and given his contract, would be available on the cheap.

Indeed, as per the report, Benfica will likely sell him for as little as €7.5 million which would make him an attractive prospect for Arsenal. The fact that Grimaldo has the same agent as Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta could help the north Londoners if they decide to firm up their interest in the former Barcelona ace.

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