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Arsenal set to face stern competition to sign Alejandro Grimaldo

By Ritayan Chatterjee on November 1, 2022

Arsenal could reportedly face tough competition to sign SL Benfica defender Alejandro Grimaldo, as per the report in the Portuguese outlet Record.

The 27-year-old’s current deal with the Eagles is set to expire at the end of this season and it appears the full-back isn’t going to extend his contract. Therefore, he could leave the club for a cut-price deal in January or for free next summer.

A previous report claimed that Mikel Arteta’s side are interested in signing Grimaldo and made an enquiry about the player’s availability over a potential January move. The report also stated that Roger Schmidt’s side might accept a cut-price deal to sell their star man in the winter window in fear of losing him for free next summer.

Meanwhile, Record is now claiming that Arsenal would face a stern challenge to sign the Spaniard in this upcoming transfer window due to the fact that other European giants like Barcelona and Juventus as well as fellow Premier League club Chelsea are also keen on signing the talented full-back.

Grimaldo to Arsenal

Alejandro Grimaldo would be an excellent signing for Arsenal, given the Spaniard has been a consistent performer since joining Benfica from Barcelona back in 2016. The 27-year-old is an attack-minded full-back and also technically sound. So, he would be an ideal option to play in Mikel Arteta’s system.

Kieran Tierney was Arsenal’s first-choice left-back until last term, however, due to his persistent injury problems, Arteta was forced to make a move for a new full-back and signed Oleksandr Zinchenko from Manchester City this summer. The ex-Man City man has also been suffering from injury issues since joining the club but it obviously Arteta’s first choice left-back when fit.

Tierney was thought to be the deputy for the Ukrainian during the early stages of this campaign but he has fallen out of favour. Arteta has been picking Takehiro Tomiyasu – who is a right-back by trait – in the left-back position, amidst the injury absence of Zinchenko, over the Scotland international in recent weeks.

Therefore, it appears Tierney’s future at Arsenal could be in doubt and the Gunners may be on the look out for a replacement. Signing a new left-back in January could be on the cards and Grimaldo – who is valued at around £18m by Transfermarkt – might be a perfect addition to the Gunners squad.