Arne Slot Could Solve This Major Squad Issue with Liverpool ‘Scouting’ La Liga Defender
Eyebrows were raised by the lack of transfer activity by Liverpool in the summer, especially considering the appointment of new head coach Arne Slot. Despite the Reds’ strong start to the season, questions do remain over the current squad of players and it’s depth.
One position that has particularly been discussed has been the need for a left-sided defender, which obviously didn’t come to fruition over the summer. However, Kostas Tsimikas’ really poor mistake to give AC Milan the lead on Tuesday will have been a stark reminder of the need to reinforce in that position.
With that being said, Liverpool reportedly had scouts at Girona’s defeat to Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday evening, according to Caught Offside. One of the players they’re keeping tabs on is the left-back, Miguel Gutierrez.
Who is Miguel Gutierrez?
Gutierrez is a very exciting left-back currently playing for Girona in La Liga and has been one of their standout performers in their impressive rise to Champions League football. After coming through the ranks at Real Madrid and representing Spain in every youth bracket, the 23-year-old’s form for Girona has catapulted himself back onto the radar of Europe’s biggest clubs.
The defender has racked up 82 appearances since that move, registering four goals and 14 assists in that time. His impressive club form has also now earned him a spot in Spain’s senior squad, where he now has five caps and one goal to his name.
Performance vs PSG
Despite falling to a narrow defeat in their Champions League debut, Girona put in a solid performance with a 90th minute Paulo Gazzaniga own goal being the difference on the night. Gutierrez was one of the standout performers once again for the Spanish side, winning four of his five ground duels, having 60 touches, 31 completed passes, three tackles, three clearances and one clearance – forcing PSG’s danger man Ousmane Dembele into having just one successful dribble out of four attempts.
This aspect of Gutierrez game has undoubtedly improved recently, with the youngster more known for his electric creative play going forward. This well-rounded ability that Gutierrez is creating could definitely make him a worthy candidate for Arne Slot’s plans come next summer.
Statistical Analysis
When looking at how Gutierrez ranks against other full-backs over the past year, you can see his defensive struggles in recent times. However, you can also see that really exciting ability on the ball and in terms of creating chances.
His numbers in terms of pass completion, progressive passes and progressive carries suits Slot’s line-breaking approach very well and is something we have seen Andy Robertson attempting to do fairly often in the opening games this season.
The Spaniard’s xAG and assists per 90 are also on a similar level to the output we would want on that left-hand side. His style of play could also suit a partnership with both Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo really well, with his mix of overlap and underlapping runs offering serious variation.
For the rumoured price tag of around £30million, Gutierrez could be a really smart piece of business by the Reds in an area that they are expected to improve on next summer. Other names like Piero Hincapie and Rayan Ait-Nouri continue to be linked too, so there’s plenty for Richard Hughes and Michael Edwards to consider.
