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GOOD MOVE: Arsenal set to make January move for 26-year-old Benfica star

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Arsenal and Newcastle United are reportedly ready to battle one another for the services of Benfica defender Alex Grimaldo in January.

The 26-year-old star has entered the final year of his deal with the Portuguese giants, who were expected to sanction a cut-price sale in the summer transfer window.

 

However, Grimaldo has stayed on the books at Benfica, who are at risk of losing the Spanish defender on a free transfer at the end of the campaign.

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Grimaldo will be free to negotiate a pre-contract agreement with foreign teams from January, or alternatively, interested parties could try to strike a deal for a nominal fee over the winter.

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The Gunners were linked with a move for Grimaldo in the summer before moving for Ukrainian left-back Oleksandr Zinchenko, however, TuttoJuve reports that the North London giants still hold an interest in the Spaniard.

Mikel Arteta currently has Tierney and Zinchenko as his left-back options, with Tavares joining Marseille on a season-long loan, however, Grimaldo’s versatility could appeal to his compatriot.

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The 26-year-old defender is capable of featuring further up the field on the left-hand side and has even deputised in central midfield – an area where the Gunners are short – on a handful of occasions.

 

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However, should the North London giants want to win the race for Grimaldo’s signature, the report adds that they will have to fend off interest from Newcastle and Juventus in January.

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Grimaldo left Barcelona’s youth setup in January 2016 to join Benfica, where he has scored 20 goals and provided 52 assists in 259 games across all tournaments.

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