Napoli agree £27m deal to sign Manchester United target Alex Grimaldo from Benfica
Reports in Italy claim Serie A club are close to wrapping up transfer for Spanish under-21 international who had been on radar of United in their search for a left-back
NAPOLI are close to agreeing a £27million deal for Manchester United target Alex Grimaldo.
United have been keeping tabs on the Benfica defender this season as Jose Mourinho looks to bring in a new left-back at Old Trafford.
But according to reports in Italy and Portugal, Grimaldo looks to be heading to Serie A and not the Premier League.
Portuguese paper Ojogo say Napoli and Benfica have settled on a fee for the 22-year-old who has impressed during his time at the Estadio da Luz.
The defender is now said to be holding talks with Napoli and is on the verge of agreeing a five-year deal to move to Italy.
If United do miss out on signing the promising Spaniard it may see them intensify their chase for either Alex Sandro or Danny Rose.
Mourinho is in the market for a left-back having been forced to employ Ashley Young as a makeshift player in that role this year.
Though Young's form has been impressive, the United boss wants to bring a recognised top class player to fill what has become a problem area for him.
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Luke Shaw has managed to earn the trust of Mourinho in recent weeks after finally forcing his way into the Premier League squad.
But doubts still remain over the England defender's long-term future at Old Trafford with Mourinho understood to have concerns whether he is of the standard he wants.
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Instead he has scoured Europe looking for a man to bring in, with Grimaldo, Sandro and Rose the three he has been watching closely.
England defender Rose is still unsettled at Tottenham despite returning to the first team following a long-term injury, amid concerns he is not getting paid what he think he deserves.
It would take a bid in the region of £50m before Spurs chairman Daniel Levy would even consider the idea of selling.
A move for Juventus star Sandro is one that has been rumoured over the past few months, but he also comes with a £50m plus price tag.
The Brazilian was chased by Chelsea last summer but the London club were unable to agree a deal with Juve for his services.
Juventus now look more open to the idea of selling the 26-year-0ld than they were last summer and could even cash in during the transfer window.