Real Madrid youngster Miguel Gutierrez has reportedly emerged as a summer transfer target for Arsenal as they eye replacements in the full-back positions.
According to a report from The Athletic, Premier League giants Arsenal are considering a raid on La Liga bigwigs Real Madrid in the current transfer window for the signing of young defender Miguel Gutierrez.
Gutierrez has been on the books at Real Madrid since 2011 when he arrived from the academy of Getafe. The 19-year-old has enjoyed a rapid progression through the ranks at the club as he broke into the club’s Castilla outfit early in the 2020/21 campaign, going onto feature 15 times under the tutelage of Raul Gonzalez, scoring and assisting one goal apiece.
Gutierrez got his first-team breakthrough towards the business end of the 2020/21 season, coming on as a substitute in a La Liga clash against Cadiz in April. He featured six times in total for the Real Madrid senior side, starting the last three league games of the campaign ahead of Marcelo when Ferland Mendy was out with an injury.
However, first-team minutes are likely to come at a premium for the young Gutierrez this season with Real Madrid confirming that Marcelo will be staying put at the Santiago Bernabeu. With the Brazilian, who will now be the club captain, as well as Mendy ahead of him in the pecking order, the 19-year-old might find it difficult to break into Carlo Ancelotti’s plans for the season.
And, Arsenal are hoping to capitalise on the situation by launching a swoop for the Spanish Under-19 international. The Gunners are in the market for full-backs on right and left sides as Hector Bellerin continues to be linked with an exit from the Emirates while they have precious little in terms of cover for Kieran Tierney.
Indeed, last term, manager Mikel Arteta was forced to use the likes of Cedric Soares and Granit Xhaka as makeshift left-backs in the absence of the Scotsman, who recently signed a new contract. With Sead Kolasinac expected to be sold permanently this summer, it is a position that needs quick addressing, leading to the north Londoners’ interest in several players including SL Benfica’s Nuno Tavares.
Now, Gutierrez, too, has emerged as a potential target for Arsenal. The teenage left-back, though, has a release clause worth €40 million in his contract, which the Gunners are unlikely to trigger. However, given the good relations between the two clubs following the loan deals for Martin Odegaard and Dani Ceballos, a deal may be worked out, more so considering that he and Arteta share the same agents, the report adds.
It now remains to be seen whether Arsenal press ahead with their pursuit of the Real Madrid youngster or decide to look at other options with Crystal Palace’s soon-to-be free agent Patrick van Aanholt also on their radar.