Arsenal are stepping up their interest in Benfica defender Alex Grimaldo.

A Bola says a Gunners representative was understood to be in the crowd to watch the full-back in Sunday's 10-0 rout of Nacional.

The scout will have been impressed with what he saw as Grimaldo set them on their way to an emphatic win with a goal in the very first minute.

Left-back Grimaldo is being tipped as a long-term replacement for Nacho Monreal, but the 23-year-old has also attracted the attention of Manchester United in the past while Atletico Madrid are in the hunt for his signature.