Arsenal, along with Inter Milan, Everton Manchester United and Manchester City were in the stands allegedly watching Alex Grimaldo as he turned out for Benfica according to the Sun.

This is far from the first time Arsenal have been reported watching games featuring the Portuguese side, in attendance as they played Besiktas in the Champions League recently, but who is this player?

The 21-year-old left-back is a Barca product and as soon as you realise that he is a defender you know there is absolutely no way Arsenal are going to part with that sort of cash for a fullback. Manchester City and United, on the other hand, would have no problem laying out that much money for a player in any position.

One assist in five LigaNOS appearances this season, Grimaldo only signed for Benfica in January for £1.28m and has a deal until 2021 with a a £51m release clause.

Arsenal were first linked with a move for Grimaldo when he was still at Barca. Back in December 2015 it was claimed that we were considering a January bid for the player. He certainly would have been in Arsenal’s price bracket back during the window he moved to Portugal.

Guardiola reportedly did the scouting for his club himself, hiring a private jet so he could fly out and return the same evening, hinting at a move being more likely from City than anyone else.

Guardiola knows the player well having coached him when they were both at Barcelona and although Arsenal scouts would no doubt have reportedly favourably about Grimaldo, it wouldn’t be beyond the realms that they were actually there to watch Goncalo Guedes again, a player they have scouted a number of times.