Manchester City open talks with Benfica for highly-rated Spaniard
According to Portuguese transfer expert Pedro Almeida, Manchester City have opened talks with SL Benfica for defender Alex Grimaldo.
After coming up through the youth academies of Valencia and Barcelona, Alex Grimaldo, 25, decided to leave Spain and join Benfica in January 2016. At Benfica, he has racked up over 200 appearances in all formats, scoring 13 goals and supplying 41 assists.
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The Spanish left-back contributed two goals and an eye-catching 10 assists in 43 outings for Benfica. Grimaldo, who is contracted to the Portuguese giants until 2023, has a release clause worth €60m.
But with Benfica facing financial problems, the 25-year-old is available at around €30M, claims Pedro Almeida.
Manchester City are understood to be interested in Grimaldo and have begun negotiations with the Liga NOS club.
The Sky Blues are yet to make a signing in the ongoing transfer window, unlike their direct rivals Manchester United and Liverpool.
The left-back position has been a problem for Manchester City over the last few years and Pep Guardiola must address it in this transfer window. If City are to win the coveted Champions League, Guardiola cannot rely on Benjamin Mendy, Oleksandr Zinchenko, and Joao Cancelo as options at left-back.
Zinchenko and Cancelo shared the left-back duties last season, with the former starting the Cityzens’ Champions League final defeat to Chelsea in May. However, Guardiola needs a specialist player in that position, someone that would be an upgrade on Mendy, whose career at Etihad Stadium has been ravaged with consistent injury problems.
The Manchester City tactician likes players who can feature in more than one position and Alex Grimaldo fits the bill. Primarily a left-back, he is also comfortable playing at left wing-back or in a wide midfield role as seen at Benfica.
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The Spanish left-back has been a regular starter for Benfica over the last few years and has plenty of silverware to show for his efforts. He has won Primeira Liga on three occasions, whilst lifting Taca de Portugal and Taca da Liga once apiece. Thus, the 25-year-old has all the experience required to make the transition to English football.
All in all, if City manages to sign Grimaldo for around €30M, it will represent a massive coup.