Arsenal and Manchester City remain keen on an impressive Spanish star, while a Liverpool offer for a midfielder is revealed – both in all the latest Euro Paper Talk.
ARSENAL, MAN CITY WANT GRIMALDO
Alex Grimaldo remains on the radars of Arsenal and Manchester City over a potential January transfer, a report claims.
The 26-year-old Benfica star has become a vital part of the Portuguese side and is in his seventh season at the club. Although, it may be his last with his contract expiring next summer.
There have not yet been any concrete signs that Grimaldo will renew terms with Benfica. Instead, links with a transfer away are growing for the former Spain international.
In the summer, Arsenal and Man City had strong links with a move for the full-back. More recently, Newcastle and Juventus have emerged as an option.
According to Calciomercato, the Premier League duo and Barcelona have ‘gathered information’ on Grimaldo throughout 2022.
Given his contract is expiring and he is approaching his prime having played at the top level for Benfica and in the Champions League, his signing opportunity looks an attractive one.
But, Serie A giants Juventus look the most likely contenders to sign Grimaldo. They believe the Spaniard can be the ‘perfect heir’ to Alex Sandro, who is 31 and whose contract is also expiring next summer after seven years in Turin.
Grimaldo has looked at the chance and circumstances of a move to Juve and is indeed ‘waiting’ for them to firm up their interest.
Should the full-back’s situation remain the same, the Benfica man will be free to talk to any of his overseas interested parties.
Grimaldo has played 261 games for the Portuguese side, scoring 20 goals and assisting 53 others.
This term, he has featured in every game so far and chipped in with four direct goal contributions.
AND THE REST FROM EURO PAPER TALK
Liverpool made a higher summer offer than Bayern Munich for Gavi, who instead chose to commit to Barcelona. (AS)
Reds midfielder Thiago Alcantara has declared “we are us again” following their Champions League victory over Ajax. (TNT Sports)
Leicester submitted a late-summer bid for Jeremie Boga, but the Atalanta striker changed his mind and rejected the Foxes. (Gazzetta dello Sport)
Kepa Arrizabalaga hopes Chelsea boss Graham Potter hands him game time so that he can play for Spain at the World Cup. (El Larguero, Cadena Ser)
PSV Eindhoven star Cody Gakpo can be the “revelation” of the Qatar tournament, according to former Netherlands international Rene van de Kerkhof. (Voetbal International)
AKANJI RUBBISHES BORUSSIA DORTMUND RUMOURS
Manchester City defender Manuel Akanji says German reports were “crazy” to assume he did not sign a new Borussia Dortmund contract because of wage disputes. (Blick)
Newcastle and Aston Villa are keen on Vasco de Gama midfielder Andrey Santos, who has been rated at €30million (£26million). Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona are also interested. (Jeunesfooteux)
Chelsea sporting director target Christoph Freund has insisted that summer talks with the Blues involved “not much more” than football. (ServusTV)
Meanwhile, AC Milan chief Paolo Maldini has revealed his club rejected an “unwritten” summer offer for Rafael Leao. (Sport Mediaset)
Antonio Conte is not renewing his Tottenham manager’s contract and “can’t wait” to return to Juventus. (Paolo Bargiggia)
MBAPPE TO MAN UTD UPDATE
There is “nothing” going on between Manchester United and Kylian Mbappe as it stands, following the striker’s recent PSG renewal. (Fabrizio Romano)
A number of Premier League clubs have watched Sporting star Marcus Edwards for a while amid the former Tottenham man’s rise in Portugal. (Fabrizio Romano)
Espanyol sporting director Domingo Catoira has labelled claims from Raul de Tomas that the now-Rayo Vallecano man was marginalised a “fragrant lie”. (Football Espana)
Roma midfielder Nicolo Zaniolo has stressed he is only focused on the season following summer transfer links with Tottenham. (Football Italia)
Isco can “mark an era for Sevilla” according to boss Julen Lopetegui, after his switch across Spain from Real Madrid. (AS)
