Arsenal want Alex Grimaldo but now face competition from London rivals Chelsea for the Benfica left back.
The Gunners signed a left back over the summer with Oleksandr Zinchenko arriving from Manchester City.
Zinchenko ahas impressed in an Arsenal shirt but injuries have been a big problem.
The Ukrainian hasn’t played for a month now and Takehiro Tomiyasu has been filling in of late.
That means Kieran Tierney is on the fringes and if he angles for a move away, Arsenal may need to have targets in mind to replace him.
Arsenal want Alex Grimaldo
One name Arsenal were interested in over the summer is Benfica ace Alex Grimaldo.
90Min reported in July that Arsenal had opened talks with Benfica to try and thrash out a deal.
The Spaniard is out of contract next summer, making him a potential bargain addition.
Zinchenko ended up joining instead just over a week later, leaving Grimaldo to stay at Benfica.
The 27-year-old – formerly of Barcelona – is represented by the same agency as Arteta – so many still be on Arsenal’s radar.
Portuguese newspaper Record now claim that Arsenal are ‘attentive’ to Grimaldo’s situation as they keep him on their wish list.
However, the report adds that Barcelona, Juventus and even London rivals Chelsea are now interested in Grimaldo too.
News of Chelsea’s interest comes as a surprise.
Ben Chilwell is back from injury and Chelsea just spent big money on a left wing back in Marc Cucurella.
Graham Potter has utilised Cucurella as a left-sided centre back in a three-man defence, but with mixed results.
Signing Grimaldo would indicate that Cucurella is staying as a left-sided centre back for the foreseeable future or that Chilwell is available.
Neither of those seem particularly concrete so interest in Grimaldo seems a little hard to believe.
In Arsenal’s case, we can’t see them making a move for Grimaldo unless Tierney wants to leave, even if Edu and co have been interested of late.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
