Arsenal have been keeping a close eye on 22-year-old defender Miguel Gutiérrez ever since he made his Real Madrid debut in 2021.
Renowned transfer expert Fabrizio Romano recently reported that the Gunners have sent scouts to monitor the young full-back, who is currently under contract with Girona until 2027.
While no specific clubs have emerged as direct rivals for Gutiérrez’s signature, speculation suggests that Real Madrid might consider re-signing the player.
However, with Los Blancos prioritizing Fran García and potentially eyeing Alphonso Davies, a return to the Santiago Bernabéu appears unlikely at this stage.
Gutiérrez, a product of Real Madrid’s academy, made the switch to Girona in 2022 for a fee of €4 million.
As part of the deal, Real Madrid secured a 50% sell-on clause, ensuring a potential financial benefit if Girona were to sell him in the future.
Despite this, Girona are keen to retain their left-back, at least until the summer transfer window.
Nevertheless, a substantial bid in January could force the Catalan club to reconsider their stance.
Arsenal’s Search for a Left-Back
The potential pursuit of Gutiérrez comes as Arsenal look to bolster their left-back options.
The club loaned out Kieran Tierney to Real Sociedad during the summer transfer window, while Nuno Tavares joined Nottingham Forest on loan with a purchase option included in the deal.
This leaves Oleksandr Zinchenko as the only recognized senior left-back in Mikel Arteta’s squad, highlighting the need for reinforcements in that area.
Gutiérrez has impressed with his performances for Girona, who currently sit atop the La Liga table.
This season, he has made 12 appearances across all competitions, contributing one assist and displaying both offensive and defensive consistency.
His overall record for Girona stands at 46 appearances, further underlining his experience and reliability at a young age.
A Tactical Fit for Arteta
One of Gutiérrez’s most notable strengths is his ability to function as an inverted full-back, a role that aligns perfectly with Arteta’s tactical setup.
The Arsenal manager highly values full-backs who can move into central midfield areas, aiding in transitions between defense and attack. Gutiérrez’s skill set and adaptability make him an excellent candidate for this role.
While Girona would prefer to keep hold of their star full-back for the remainder of the season, Arsenal’s interest is likely to intensify, especially if they view Gutiérrez as a long-term solution to their left-back concerns.
