Manchester United have received a positive boost in their pursuit of Girona left-back Miguel Gutiérrez.
Following an injury crisis last season, it has become apparent that Man United are in dire need of additional reinforcements in defence if they are to remain solid at the back going forward.
While Tyrell Malacia had been ruled out for the season, starting left-back Luke Shaw faced an injury crisis of his own, limping off the field during United’s 2-1 win over Luton Town in February only to be ruled out for the remainder of the season.
The resultant muscle injury, along with other setbacks, restricted the England international to just 15 appearances in all competitions.
As a result, right-back Diogo Dalot had to switch sides while Aaron Wan-Bissaka covered the right flank.
Although Shaw appears to be on the road to recovery, United are clearly in need of additional full-backs in the event that more injuries occur.
One prospect that has attracted United’s attention is Girona left-back Gutiérrez.
In March, The Peoples Person mentioned that United had reportedly sent scouts to observe the Girona defender for multiple weeks.
It was not long before other clubs joined the race, however, with Arsenal reportedly identifying the 22 year old as a solution to their own defensive problems.
Weeks later, the race for Gutiérrez appeared to heat up even more, with Real Madrid reportedly looking to bring him back to the club.
In addition to possessing 50% of the rights to their academy graduate, Madrid are also believed to have a buyback clause of €8 million for the player, handing them an advantage over United and other challengers, who would be required to spend around €35 million for his transfer.
Fortunately for United, however, it appears as if the Spanish club may not be as enthusiastic about signing Gutiérrez as first expected.
Fichajes reported this morning that Madrid have not yet made a move for Gutiérrez as they continue to monitor the availability of Bayern Munich’s Alphonso Davies.
Should United look to sign an affordable, young defender who could potentially serve the club for years to come, Gutiérrez may just be worth considering.
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