Manchester City signed Sergio Gomez to replace Oleksandr Zinchenko at left-back, though Pep Guardiola has stuck with Joao Cancelo as his first-choice, but Calciomercato believe the 22-year-old might have added competition in January or the following summer.
Mirko Calemme says City are battling with Arsenal and Barcelona for the 26-year-old’s signature. Grimaldo could be available for a cut-price in the winter transfer window due to his contract expiring in 2023, but Benfica would prefer to keep him at the Estádio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica.
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5th or lower
Grimaldo joined the Portuguese giants from Barca in 2016 and has gone on to make 261 appearances in all competitions, scoring 20 goals with 53 assists. The Spanish U21 international has hit double figures for goals and assists in three of his last four full seasons at left-back, so it’s easy to see why clubs are showing an interest.
Grimaldo has five goals and five assists from 27 league starts in 2021/22, making 50 tackles, 29 interceptions, 17/42 successful dribbles, 58 chances and 170 crosses. The 26-year-old is effective in both boxes, so there’s no reason why Guardiola wouldn’t admire him.
Grimaldo could be available for €5m-€7m (£4.35m-£6.1m) in January or for free in July 2023, but it remains to be seen if Guardiola will make a move. The City manager does like competition in all positions, so signing Grimaldo would mean two natural left-backs in the first-team.
In other news, Gabriel Agbonlahor critical of Pep Guardiola’s treatment of Kalvin Phillips