Arsenal given chance at likely free transfer as defender’s contract renewal ‘remains a distant scenario’

With Arsenal being linked to Benfica fullback Alex Grimaldo since 2019, it’s no secret the Gunners follow the fullback’s potential.

We get to see the Gunners reportedly chasing the 27-year-old year after year, as just a couple of months ago, it was again said they had looked for ‘information’ on the player.

It turns out Grimaldo’s contract with Benfica expires at the end of the season, and as many clubs are expected to try to sign him for free, Arsenal were named in a couple of stories from the Spanish media at the weekend.

Now it’s time for Portuguese newspaper Record to feature an update on the situation, and they claim that the player is indeed close to leaving the Eagles for free next year.

They write that despite contacts between Benfica and Grimaldo’s agents for a renewal, it actually happening ‘remains a distant scenario’.

Record recalls that besides Arsenal, the likes of Barcelona, Juventus and Chelsea have been linked to the player as well.

So instead of waiting to sign him for free in the summer, the clubs may want to find an early deal with Benfica and take him in January for a small sum to avoid the competition.