Bemused Benfica chief responds to Arsenal interest in Alex Grimaldo transfer

Benfica president Rui Costa says he 'doesn't know' where the rumours linking left-back Alex Grimaldo with Arsenal came from.

The Gunners are reportedly interested in signing the former Spain youth international, 26, to bolster their defensive options. Manager Mikel Arteta has two senior left-backs to choose from - Kieran Tierney and Nuno Tavares - but there are doubts about both.

Tierney is popular with Arsenal fans but has struggled with injuries since his move from Celtic three years ago, playing just 64 Premier League games to date. He missed the final two months of last season as the Gunners missed out on Champions League qualification.

Tavares, meanwhile, has failed to convince supporters since he joined Arsenal from Benfica last summer. The 22-year-old made 22 Premier League outings last season and was hauled off during the first-half of their FA Cup defeat to Nottingham Forest in January.

Many Gunners fans believe Tavares would be more convincing as a left-winger due to his defensive vulnerability. The Portugal youth international has also been linked with a move to Marseille, a transfer that could force Arteta to bring in a new left-back.

And it's claimed Grimaldo has been identified as the perfect understudy to Tierney. The former Barcelona youngster joined Benfica seven years ago and has since made 249 appearances for the club, winning eight trophies - including three Primeira Liga titles.

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But ex-playmaker Costa, who won 94 senior caps for Portugal and the Champions League at AC Milan during his playing days, insists Arsenal are yet to make a move for Grimaldo. The defender has just entered the final year of his existing deal.

"I'm going to talk to him now, see if he's okay," Costa told a reporter when asked about Grimaldo's situation, as quoted by Portuguese outlet Mais Futebol. "Grimaldo is like all the other players, he is working and in time we will..."

At that point, Costa was interrupted by another reporter to see if Arsenal have made a bid. "You [the press] have been saying that," came the reply. "None of this came to me. I don't know where that came from."

Arsenal have signed four players so far this transfer window - goalkeeper Matt Turner from New England Revolution, midfielder Fabio Vieira from Porto, forward Gabriel Jesus from Manchester City and Brazilian youngster Marquinhos from Sao Paulo.

The Gunners finished fifth in the Premier League last season - two points behind bitter rivals Tottenham - and will compete in the Europa League alongside Erik ten Hag's Manchester United this coming term. The draw for the group stage, which starts in September, takes place on August 26.

Arsenal's new Premier League campaign starts on August 5. They will travel to Selhurst Park to take on Patrick Vieira's Crystal Palace, a team they struggled against last season. The Gunners picked up just one point against their London rivals, losing 3-0 at Selhurst Park.