Leeds United are reportedly still in the hunt to sign Benfica left-back Alex Grimaldo on a free this summer, but his club haven’t given up hope on trying to tie him down.
Even though Leeds still find themselves in a seriously precarious position, the club look to be planning to make signings for the summer window, should they stay in the Premier League.
Junior Firpo’s revival at left-back looks to have relieved some of the pressure on that position, but Leeds may still be looking to sign someone.
Alex Grimaldo to Leeds?
It was reported last month by Football Insider that Leeds were one of the clubs interested in signing Benfica’s star left-back Alex Grimaldo in the summer.
The Spaniard wouldn’t cost a penny for Leeds to bring in, given that his contract is up in the summer, but his form in the league and Champions League this season is bound to arouse stronger interest from elsewhere.
Grimaldo has five goals and 13 assists in all competitions this season with two goals and three assists coming in the Champions League as he prepares for a quarter-final clash with Inter Milan.
What’s the latest?
Reports from Portugal back up Leeds’ interest in the 27-year-old, with newspaper Record (via Sport Witness) underlining the Whites’ monitoring of the left-back alongside Atletico Madrid and Fulham.
His club are still wanting to tie him down to a new contract, but those talks are said to be “distant”, with the player keeping his options open as things stand.
A transfer away remains a distinct possibility, especially to either La Liga or the Premier League as Grimaldo “welcomes a foray into English football or a return to his country”.
Will Leeds stay up?
Yes
No
Survival and the San Francisco 49ers taking over should see us having a very ambitious summer planned, but that remains the main sticking point.
Our Premier League status is not going to be assured for some time towards May, and by that point, Grimaldo could have already signed a pre-contract agreement to go somewhere else.
I still think we need a left-back in the summer to push Firpo, but it should probably be someone a lot younger than him.