Scout Report – Alejandro Grimaldo
Liverpool have been linked with signing the young Alejandro Grimaldo, who currently plays for Benfica. Left-back Grimaldo has a €40m price tag placed on him by Portuguese club Benfica, according to Calciomercato.
The 22-year-old has played nine times this season and has impressed in the Champions League, including a pair of top notch outings against Manchester United. Although the Reds will face competition from Juventus, it could be worth staging a fight to sign a player with the kind of potential Grimaldo boasts of.
Let’s take a further look at his profile.
History
Born in Valencia, Spain, Grimaldo joined Barcelona’s youth system in 2008. He spent a solid 7 years there, before joining Benfica towards the end of December 2015, right when his contract was about to expire. His current contract runs until 2021, and the player is doing wonders for the Portuguese club.
He took some time to settle in and become a regular but now it seems like there is truly no stopping him. In fact, Grimaldo’s performances in Portugal have caught the eye of scouts from Bayern Munich, Juventus, Real Madrid, Valencia and both Manchester clubs – but as of now, Liverpool seem to be in pole position to sign the promising youngster.
Playing Style
The youngster possesses all the basic qualities expected of a modern-day full-back – speed, agility, crossing ability and participation at both ends of the field. Grimaldo is also known for displaying a high level of tactical intelligence and excellent ball control.
Looking at his performances, one might even say that he has the makings of a midfield player: he doesn’t simply hug the touchline and wait for the ball to come to him but instead roams into central positions whenever his team has possession. His accurate passing skill is another advantage, which adds another layer to Benfica’s attacking options while surging up front. However, the player is very weak when it comes to aerial challenges, owing to his slim build and height.
Grimaldo’s Future
The full back area continues to be a sticky area for Jurgen Klopp despite the resurgence of Alberto Moreno and the arrival of Andy Robertson. Versatile veteran James Milner is performing admirably but he is not the long-term solution.
There is certainly space for Grimaldo at Liverpool but he certainly won’t come cheap. Moreover, Klopp has to spend money at strengthening his centre-back department, which should be a higher priority than signing a left-back. Grimaldo is one of the best, which means he will not come on the cheap. So the finance alone could pose a problem for Klopp.