Arsenal are leading the chase to sign Benfica star Alejandro Grimaldo next summer, it has been reported.
According to Mundo Deportivo, the Gunners are in pole position to sign the in-demand left-back, who has been regarded as one of the most talented full-backs in Europe.
Grimaldo has already enjoyed two productive seasons at Benfica and a big money move to Emirates could be on the horizon, although Manchester City are also interested in the services of the 23-year-old.
Alejandro Grimaldo: The perfect player for Emery’s set-up
Arsenal are experiencing an injury-ravaged season so far, especially in the defensive department, where the likes of Laurent Koscielny, Rob Holding, Monreal and Hector Bellerin have struggled with frequent injuries throughout the course of the campaign.
Monreal has also played less than 1,000 minutes in the league so far, which has forced Emery to rely on the services of Sead Kolasinac, who has provided a series of inconsistent performances at left-back.
Therefore, Arsenal could certainly use some reinforcements in the left-back department and Grimaldo, in that regard, could be the ideal fit.
A product of the La Masia youth academy in Barcelona, Grimaldo has good technical quality that not only allows him to rotate possession, but also link up with teammates in the final third.
Grimaldo is quite composed on the ball as well, which, combined with excellent decision making has seen feature in a midfield role as well.
In fact, the 23-year-old has been deployed as a left-sided midfielder numerous times during his time in Portugal. This tunes in well with Arsenal’s attacking philosophy under Emery, who often focuses on quick turnovers and rotation of possession in the final third.
That being said, Grimaldo certainly lags behind in terms of his defensive duties, largely due to his small frame of 5 feet 7 inches. In addition, the 23-year-old, unlike Bellerin, is not blessed with explosive pace
However, with agile players like Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette operating in the final third, Grimaldo’s technical prowess along with his accurate forward passes would certainly add more creative essence to Arsenal’s build-up play.
More importantly, the 23-year-old can provide Emery with more depth in the full-back department and considering his age, he would be an ideal long-term investment for the Gunners.