Arsenal are understood to have submitted an offer for a left-back.
The player in question is Benfica’s Alex Grimaldo, with Portuguese outlet A Bola claiming that the Gunners have made a €7m offer for the Spaniard and are set to intensify negotiations over the coming weeks.
Given Arsenal already have two senior left-backs on their books in the form of Kieran Tierney and Nuno Tavares, adding a third player may seem a bit overkill.
🚨 Arsenal have now submitted a €7m offer for Benfica left-back Alex Grimaldo & are set to intensify negotiations over the coming weeks. [@abolapt] #afc pic.twitter.com/IOTdnYwnSy
— afcstuff (@afcstuff) July 10, 2022
However, it makes a lot more sense when you look back at the 2021/22 season Tavares had. The defender has shown quality going forward, but the defensive side of his game is very much lacking and he cost Arsenal several goals last season.
Furthermore, going back to Arsenal’s interest in Lisandro Martinez earlier this summer, it was reported that Arsenal were keen to land the Argentine because there are major concerns about Kieran Tierney’s injury record, leading the club to believe they need another player in to cover.
Martinez now seems more likely to make the switch to Manchester United, but Grimaldo, who is a natural left-back, would obviously provide cover for Tierney whilst also bringing some European experience.
Grimaldo, 26, has been on Benfica’s books since 2016 when he joined from FC Barcelona’s B team.
He has since made 246 appearances for the Portuguese powerhouse, scoring 19 and assisting 50.
Grimaldo also has just one year left on his current contract, which may explain the relatively low fee being offered by Arsenal.
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