Pep Guardiola is keeping an eye on Benfica starlet Alex Grimaldo, according to reports in Portugal.
MaisFutebol reporters spotted the Manchester City boss on a discreet scouting mission at the Estadio da Luz, where Benfica were playing Braga.
Arsenal, Everton, Manchester United, and Inter Milan all had representatives in attendance, but City have one major advantage when it comes to pulling power – Guardiola.
The 21-year-old worked with Guardiola at Barca, which would presumably make City favourites to land him.
However, Grimaldo won’t be coming cheap, as his release clause stands at £51million. That means Benfica would make a huge profit on the defender, whom they signed for £1million.
City aren’t expected to move for him immediately, though they do view the left-back as a long-term replacement for the uninspiring Gael Clichy and Alexander Kolarov.
Guardiola has already spent big on his defence since arriving at the Etihad over the summer, but City still look somewhat vulnerable in the full-back positions, so a January raid is not entirely out of the question.
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