Arsenal lodge official bid for Alex Grimaldo

Left-back Alex Grimaldo has emerged as a primary target for Arsenal this transfer window, as the club seek a new first-team left back. The Spanish defender, 26, is available for a fee in the region of 20 million euros, and has just two years remaining on his contract with Benfica.

Grimaldo has been with Benfica for 7 years, appearing in close to 250 games for the club. The Spaniard is said to be keen on a move to England.

"I’m going to talk to him now, see if he’s okay," Benfica director of football Rui Costa said of the defender. "Grimaldo is like all the other players, he is working."

With uncertainty over the long term future of Nuno Tavares, and continuing worries over the injuries of Kieran Tierney, Arsenal are scouring Europe to find a new sign defender. 

The 5 foot 7 defender came through Barcelona's youth academy, appearing for the club's B team, before Benfica opted to make a 2 million euro transfer for the defender. Since then, Grimaldo has emerged as one of the best defenders in the Portuguese Liga.