Arsenal to make £5.9m bid for Benfica left-back Alex Grimaldo

Arsenal have reportedly outlined their intentions to move for Benfica left-back Alex Grimaldo.

The Spanish defender is only under contract at the Estadio da Luz for another year, raising the prospect of a cut-price deal in the ongoing transfer window.

The Portuguese outfit will look to avoid losing him on a free transfer next year, and the Gunners are supposedly ready to take advantage of the player’s situation.

According to Portuguese newspaper Jornal de Noticias – as quoted by The Express – the Premier League giants have now prepared to up their efforts to secure a deal for the defender before the new season kicks off.

The report goes on to claim that the Gunners are eyeing a bargain deal of €7m for the left-back.

Benfica are supposedly expecting the north Londoners to make a formal approach for the former Spain Under-21 international’s services within the next week, three years after the club tried and failed to prise him away from the Estadio da Luz.

Grimaldo has scored 19 goals and 50 assists in 246 games for the Portuguese club, winning three Primeira Liga titles.