EXCLUSIVE: Arsenal and Liverpool join Bayern in race for Grimaldo

Steve Kay

• Updated: 12 Apr 2024 22:26 BST
• 4 min read

Exclusive

Alejandro Grimaldo is admired by Arsenal, Liverpool, and Bayern Munich ahead of the summer transfer window, FootballTransfers can reveal.

The wing-back's future at Bayer Leverkusen is in the balance after such a tremendous season for the Bundesliga outfit.

The Gunners and the Reds have been monitoring his situation but Munich are expressing keen interest, too.

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Although the exact price demanded for Grimaldo has not been revealed, Bayer tend to be a selling club who are capable of sourcing replacements where needed.

Grimaldo remarkably joined the side on a free transfer last summer and has gone on to make 26 goals contributions in 41 matches across all competitions.

His contract at the BayArena is until 2027 while his Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) has risen from €30 million to €38.7 million in less than a year of being there.

Meanwhile, we are told that Xabi Alonso, the current manager of Bayer who’s leading them to their first-ever Bundesliga title, was on the brink of a sensational return to Liverpool, before changing his mind.

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Sources close to the negotiations revealed talks between Alonso and Bayer’s director of sport, Simon Rolfe, as well as chairman Fernando Carro, had intensified in recent days, indicating a potential departure. Alonso made himself clear that if he was to stay on as Bayer manager certain players were not to be sold in the summer.

Florian Wirtz, in particular, has attracted significant interest from Manchester City and Liverpool, both eager to secure his services for the upcoming season - but we understand that any potential move of these would be costly.

What is Xabi Alonso say about his future?

Alonso revealed in a press conference last month that it was his ambition to remain as Bayer’s coach for another season at least.

“We’ve had a lot of speculation regarding my future. We’ve had a lot of games, been pretty busy, pretty focused, and I wanted to use the international break and reflect and take a decision. Last week I had a very good meeting with Simon [Rolfes] and Fernando [Carro] and informed them of my decision to continue as coach of Bayer Leverkusen.

"It’s the right place for me to be, to develop as a coach. The fans showed great support this year. They have all the reasons to believe and dream we can have a great season. The players gave me so many reasons to keep believing in the team. My job is not over here."