Arsenal has been on the lookout for a long term replacement for Nacho Monreal and according to recent reports, including just today, we may well have found that replacement.
Today, CalcioMercato are claiming that Juventus have joined Arsenal and Manchester United in the race to sign the Benfica left-back Alejandro Grimaldo and just two weeks ago the Metro claimed that we were favourites to sign the 23-year-old, along with Manchester City.
So, the reports are consistent, we are interested in the young Spaniard and so are a lot of other high profile clubs it seems. But what do we know about him and will he really be a long term replacement for Monreal?
He started his youth career off with Valencia before being snapped up by Barcelona, where he spent four years at the famed La Masia academy, he then progressed to the Barcelona B team playing 92 games, however, he never broke through into the senior team and was sold onto Benfica in December 2015.
Grimaldo is a regular starter for Benfica, he does find the goal occasionally, seven times this season in fact, which is rather good for a left-back. He has not yet featured for the Spanish national team but over a five year period played 21 times for the Spanish youth teams.
This is a player that has quite a few games under his belt, including significant experience in European competition, he is clearly talented otherwise the likes of us, Juve and the Manchester clubs would not be keen on him, he likes to push up front and takes a brilliant free kick.
To get an idea of his talent check out this video
For me, he is definitely a player we should be going after and the fact that we are being consistently linked with him is a great sign and yes, he is for sure a good long term replacement for Monreal.
Fingers crossed we sign him.