Arsenal, Liverpool to battle for in-form Bayer Leverkusen wing-back

The Spain international spent seven years with Portuguese giants Benfica before joining Leverkusen on a free transfer last summer.

Grimaldo has established himself as a key part of Xabi Alonso's side, scoring 11 goals and providing 15 assists in 41 competitive appearances.

The 28-year-old has helped Leverkusen move 16 points clear at the top of the Bundesliga as well as playing his part in their journey to the DFB-Pokal final and the Europa League quarter-finals.

Despite being under contract until June 2027, Grimaldo is believed to be attracting interest from two Premier League heavyweights.

According to Football Transfers, Arsenal and Liverpool are keeping tabs on Grimaldo's situation ahead of the summer transfer window.

The report claims that the Premier League duo are being rivalled by Bayern Munich, who are on the lookout for a potential replacement for Alphonso Davies.

With Grimaldo being linked with a move away from the BayArena, it is currently unclear whether Alonso's decision to remain as Leverkusen boss will have any bearing on the Spaniard's future.

Alonso will be keen to retain his best players after recently confirming he will stay with Leverkusen for at least another season despite emerging as a managerial target for the likes of Liverpool and Bayern.

Arsenal, Liverpool searching for a new left-back

Grimaldo currently operates as a wing-back due to Leverkusen's 3-4-2-1 system, but he has previous experience playing deeper as a traditional left-sided defender.

While a left-back may not be a top priority, Arsenal and Liverpool may both have reasons to strengthen the position ahead of the 2024-25 campaign.

Arsenal are likely to offload Kieran Tierney when he returns from his loan spell with Real Sociedad, while Oleksandr Zinchenko is no longer a guaranteed starter and faces an uncertain future at the Emirates Stadium.

As for Liverpool, they could be tempted to recruit a new left-back following Andrew Robertson's injury issues this season.