Arsenal admire Miguel Gutierrez of Girona, but the complexity of a deal may make a loan move more likely this month.

GIRONA, SPAIN - JANUARY 14: Miguel Gutiérrez of Girona FC reacts during the LaLiga Santander match between Girona FC and Sevilla FC at Montilivi Stadium on January 14, 2023 in Girona, Spain. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
GIRONA, SPAIN: Miguel Gutiérrez of Girona FC reacts during the LaLiga Santander match between Girona FC and Sevilla FC at Montilivi Stadium on January 14, 2023. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

James McNicholas reports for The Athletic that Arsenal admire Miguel Gutierrez of Girona, but his ownership rights complicate a prospective deal.

Gutierrez is owned by both Real Madrid and City Football Group, Girona’s main shareholder.

McNicholas writes that Gutierrez is therefore unlikely to move mid-season, and if Arsenal are to make a signing at left-back, it will probably be an opportunistic loan deal.

GIRONA, SPAIN: Miguel Gutiérrez of Girona FC looks on during the LaLiga Santander match between Girona FC and Sevilla FC at Montilivi Stadium on January 14, 2023. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
GIRONA, SPAIN: Miguel Gutiérrez of Girona FC looks on during the LaLiga Santander match between Girona FC and Sevilla FC at Montilivi Stadium on January 14, 2023. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

Relevo recently reported that Gutierrez is set to be one of the big names in the January transfer market, with Real Madrid among those with a vested interest.

Latest Arsenal injury updates and news

Real Madrid sold Gutierrez to Girona in the first place, but they have the option to buy him back for just €8m (£6.87m) next summer.

For other clubs, Gutierrez has a release clause of €35m (£30.1m). Girona would probably accept less, to avoid losing him to Real Madrid for just €8m, but Madrid would still have the right of first refusal in that case.

ESP: Miguel Ortega Gutierrez of Real Madrid during the La Liga match between Real Madrid and Villarreal CF played at Alfredo Di Stefano Stadium on May 22, 2021, in Madrid, Spain. Copyright: Ruben Albarran / Pressinphoto
ESP: Miguel Ortega Gutierrez of Real Madrid during the La Liga match between Real Madrid and Villarreal CF played at Alfredo Di Stefano Stadium on May 22, 2021, in Madrid, Spain. Copyright: Ruben Albarran / Pressinphoto

Fabrizio Romano also recently claimed Arsenal had sent scouts to watch the 22-year-old this season, years after they first decided to monitor the left-back.

A winter transfer currently appears unlikely, but we’ll see how things develop over the coming weeks.

Latest Arsenal injury updates and news