Manchester City want £17m player – weeks after Arsenal were quoted half the price

Follow us on Google Discover

Manchester City want Alex Grimaldo but may end up having to pay around €20million for the Benfica man – weeks after Arsenal explored a much cheaper deal.

City have added key signings this summer with striker Erling Haaland and midfielder Kalvin Phillips both arriving in big-money moves.

There have been big departures as well though with Fernandinho, Gabriel Jesus, Raheem Sterling and Oleksandr Zinchenko all moving on.

That means City may still be in the market for new signings – and a left back appears to be the next priority for Pep Guardiola.

Manchester City want Alex Grimaldo

Brighton and Hove Albion star Marc Cucurella has been City’s top target, but there is no agreement with the Seagulls.

That means City may need to have some alternative targets in mind as they chase a replacement for Arsenal new boy Zinchenko.

Spanish newspaper Marca now claim that City are very interested in signing Benfica left back Grimaldo.

Grimaldo is now inside the final year of his contract with Benfica and it seems likely that the Portuguese side will sell now rather than see him leave for nothing.

It’s stated that Benfica want around €20million (£17million) for Grimaldo – an asking price that seems to have gone up of late.

It was reported that Arsenal were willing to pay around £6million to sign Grimaldo, viewing him as potential competition for Kieran Tierney.

Benfica allegedly wanted £8.5million for Grimaldo, yet that asking price seems to have doubled in the space of two weeks.

Maybe Benfica just know that City have plenty of cash to spend and are looking to take advantage of that.

That £17million demand is still cheaper than Cucurella, but whether Grimaldo is really as good as the Brighton star is another matter.

Grimaldo, 26, recorded six goals and nine assists in 47 games last season, showing his attacking ability.

Grimaldo was also coming through the Barcelona ranks during Pep Guardiola’s time in charge at the Camp Nou, so the City boss may well remember his qualities.

It seems unlikely that City will pay £17million for Grimaldo given his contract situation, but he is a name to keep an eye on if Cucurella can’t be secured.