Leeds United are reportedly interested in Real Madrid left-back Miguel Gutierrez. The Whites are looking to sign a left-back after Leif Davis joined Ipswich Town on Monday, with Junior Firpo set to miss the start of the season through injury.
It's been reported by Ekrem Konur that the Spaniard is a target for Leeds. Some reports have stated that Real Madrid are ready to sell Gutierrez, with plenty of options ahead of him at left-back for Los Blancos.
He was linked with Arsenal last summer, and his contract reportedly has a release clause of €40 million. However, Estadio Deportivo have reported that Real Madrid would consider selling the defender for around £7 million.
READ MORE: Leeds United linked with Real Madrid left-back following Leif Davis departure
With Jesse Marsch reportedly interested in the 20-year-old, here is everything you need to know about Miguel Gutierrez:
Who is Miguel Gutierrez?
Gutierrez is a left-back who started out at Getafe, but Real Madrid saw his talent as early as the age of 10, and Los Blancos snapped him up.
He has now been at Real for a decade, and has come through the academy ranks to make a smattering of first-team appearances.
A left-back by trade, Gutierrez can also operate on the right side, but given the depth in Real's ranks with the likes of David Alaba, Ferland Mendy, Nacho Fernandez and Dani Carvajal - it looks as though the defender could move on this summer.
What has Miguel Gutierrez done so far?
Gutierrez has an impressive CV at both youth and senior level, although he is now in a position where he will want more game time in senior football.
At youth level, Gutierrez particularly impressed for Real Madrid's Under-19s team in the Under-19s UEFA Champions League where he made 16 appearances scoring five goals and registering one assist.
Breaking into the Real first-team in 2021 is the Spaniard's most impressive achievement to date, and he has gone on to make 10 first-team appearances for Los Blancos.
Zinedine Zidane gave Gutierrez his breakthrough and handed the defender six appearances in Real's final seven games of the 2020/21 season. Opportunities have been limited under Carlo Ancelotti, although the Italian did hand him his Champions League debut - starting in a shock 2-1 defeat to FC Sheriff.
He's made three La Liga appearances under Ancelotti, all of which were at the start of last season, although Gutierrez did train with the first team a few times during 2022. His season was cut short due to injury.
He has been capped once by Spain under-21s, making his debut as a substitute against Northern Ireland last October. He has made 19 youth appearances for Spain, from under-17s level up to under-21s.
What type of player is Miguel Gutierrez?
The Spaniard is very much a modern-day full-back - quick, technically sound and has an ability to impact games in the final third.
Gutierrez is nicknamed 'The Eagle', and while the origins of that are unknown, it's believed it could be to do with his eagle-eyed vision. On his first La Liga start for Real Madrid, away at Granada, Gutierrez played an outrageous lofted pass to assist Luke Modric for the opening goal of the game.
Assists are something that the Spain under-21s international has become renowned for. At one point this season, he had eight assists in 14 games for Real Madrid Castilla.
Defensively, Gutierrez has also received plaudits. According to whoscored.com, the Spaniard averaged 2.3 tackles per game in La Liga last season. However, a report from journalist Sergio Santos earlier this month stated that Ancelotti believes Gutierrez 'lacks in the defensive department'.
What has been said about Miguel Gutierrez?
That assist from Gutierrez against Granada got people talking, none more so than his manager at the time; Zidane hailed Gutierrez's performance as 'phenomenal'.
“Miguel played because we didn’t have Mendy or Marcelo and I think he was phenomenal," said Zidane. I’m happy for him. He is a Real Madrid player.”
La Liga TV presenter Phil Kitromilides tweeted: "So that's a pretty decent assist from teenager Miguel Gutierrez on his first ever La Liga start for the mighty Luka Modric."
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