ExWHUemployee has dropped an update on reported West Ham United transfer target Alejandro Grimaldo.

What's the talk?

In a recent episode of The West Ham Way podcast, the club insider revealed that, alongside the likes of Atalanta's Joakim Maehle, Juventus' and Luca Pellegrini, David Moyes is also keeping a very close eye on the situation of the SL Benfica full-back - who has been heavily linked with an €8m (£7m) move to Arsenal this summer.

Speaking about the Hammers' potential interest in the 26-year-old, Ex said: "We're looking at a left-back. I've told you about Maehle at Atalanta. Luca Pellegrini in the Italian league as well. There are a few left-back targets over the period of the window.

"Another name to keep an eye on - and Arsenal are in the mix for him - is a guy called Alex Grimaldo. Very highly-rated left-back. We've looked at him in the past and not been tempted to make an offer because of competition. Arsenal are apparently potentially going to go for him, but worth keeping an eye on that deal as that could intensify."

Supporters will be buzzing

Considering just how impressive Grimaldo was in Portugal last season, Ex's claim that West Ham could be plotting a swoop for the left-back this summer is sure to be news that will leave the London Stadium faithful buzzing.

Indeed, over his 29 Liga Portugal Bwin appearances in 2021/22, the £18m-rated talent was in sensational form for As Águias, scoring five goals, registering five assists and creating 13 big chances for his teammates, as well as taking an average of 1.1 shots, making 2.0 key passes and completing 0.6 dribbles per game.

The defender also impressed in metrics more typical of his position, making an average of 2.0 tackles, 0.7 interceptions, 2.0 clearances and winning 4.6 duels per fixture.

These returns saw the £26k-per-week full-back average a quite remarkable SofaScore match rating of 7.33, not only ranking him as Benfica's third-best outfielder in the league but also as the tenth-best player in the division as a whole.

For comparison, over Aaron Cresswell's 31 Premier League appearances last season, the 32-year-old scored two goals, registered three assists and created five big chances for his teammates, in addition to taking an average of 0.6 shots, making 1.0 key passes and completing 0.3 dribbles per outing.

At the back, the £2.7m-rated defender made an average of 0.9 tackles, 1.1 interceptions, 2.1 clearances and won 2.5 duels per game- with these metrics seeing the former England international average a SofaScore match rating of 7.01 - ranking him as Moyes' third-best player in the league last term.

As such, it is clear to see just how impressive an addition Grimaldo would make to the Hammers' options at the back next season, especially with an asking price of just £7m, leading us to believe that the 59-year-old Irons manager must do everything in his power to beat Arsenal to the signing of the former Spain U21 international this summer.

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