As far as free agents go this summer, there won’t be many that cause as much of a scramble as Alejandro Grimaldo currently at Benfica with Newcastle United being among the list of admirers.
Newcastle will be looking to add depth to their choices at left-back in the summer and Alejandro Grimaldo is a name that’s been on their list for a while now.
With his contract set to expire in June, Grimaldo has recently come out and said he’s not thinking about his future just yet. Fabrizio Romano tweeted out Grimaldo’s latest statement which said: “I still don’t know my future step, whether I’m gonna stay at Benfica or leave on free transfer. I’m focused on the league then we will see.”
Grimaldo has been tracked by Newcastle for a while
Grimaldo has been hailed as ‘world-class‘ by Benfica’s director general, and as such, wherever he goes next the move will inevitably come after a lengthy battle between several interested clubs.
Juventus and Arsenal were said to be interested along with Newcastle in January when it was believed clubs would make their move to snap up the former Spain youth international for a small fee before his contract expired. The 27-year-old opted to see out his contract at Benfica and is seemingly still open to staying with the Portuguese giants.
Grimaldo is having a phenomenal season at Benfica having racked up 10 assists and two goals in 27 league appearances primarily from the left-back position. That’s exactly the type of player Eddie Howe is looking for to add to his left-back options.
If we want a player like Grimaldo then let’s go get Grimaldo
Dan Burn and Matt Targett are both good defenders but lack creativity when it comes to supporting the attack. Targett was always seen as the better of the two at going on the overlap, while Burn has started to add that to his game. However, Grimaldo’s ability to get forward and create chances eclipses both of our current options.
The danger with signing free agents is that their wage demands can get a bit crazy as they’re very aware of what the club is saving on transfer fees, so Newcastle’s wage structure could come under strain once again.
With the Magpies looking set for European football next year bringing in someone like Grimaldo is a must for next season, and if you’re looking for a player like Grimaldo, then who better than Grimaldo himself?
The hype around this guy is real and Newcastle should be barging their way to the front of the queue to sign him up for next season.
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