President responds when asked if Arsenal are signing his £6m man

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Benfica president Manuel Rui Costa insists he knows ‘nothing’ about a reported £7 million bid from Premier League giants Arsenal for left-back Alex Grimaldo, speaking to Mais Futebol. 

Some of the most inspired signings in recent Premier League history have touched down in England from Portuguese football. See Luis Diaz at Liverpool, for instance, or Bruno Fernandes’ immediate impact at Manchester United. 

Ruben Dias was named the division’s Player of the Year just nine months after rocking up at the Etihad Stadium. And then there’s Ederson and Raul Jimenez.

And Arsenal, having reportedly submitted a £6 million bid for Grimaldo this week, are obviously hoping to get in on the act, even if their own Primeira Liga import – Nuno Tavares – found the step up in quality difficult to deal with (A Bola). Arsenal will be hoping that Fabio Vieira, a £35 million signing from Porto, adapts far quicker than Tavares did.

Arsenal want Alex Grimaldo from Benfica

Grimaldo, meanwhile, has spent much of the summer training alone at Benfica after refusing to extend his contract. The 26-year-old will be a free-agent in 2023. 

But when asked about Grimaldo’s future at the Estadio da Luz, Rui Costa insists that he is yet to hear from the London giants.

“An Arsenal offer for Grimaldo? Nothing came to me,” says the former Portugal playmaker. “I’m going to talk to him now. He’s like all the other players, training. I didn’t get anything (in terms of transfer interest).” 

Rui Costa does admit, however, that Benfica are planning to trim the fat from a bloated squad before the window closes.

“(New head coach) Roger Schmidt wanted to see the players available,” the president says, via Radio Renascenca.  

“Among these 38 players are five goalkeepers and youngsters who this year are destined for the B team. The squad is not finished, but I’m very satisfied.”

A left-back is one of the top priorities remaining on Mikel Arteta’s summer to-do list, especially with Tavares rumoured to be leaving on loan. And Benfica would surely rather let Grimaldo go now than risk losing him for free 12 months down the line.