Arsenal and Liverpool boast the best defensive stats in the Premier League this season, a fact mirrored by their standings.
Despite their solid backlines, both teams are reportedly eyeing reinforcements in defense come summer.
According to Spanish outlet Fichajes (via 90min), both clubs are set to compete for Girona’s left-back, Miguel Gutierrez, who has a £25 million release clause.
Interestingly, his former club, Real Madrid, can reacquire him for just £6.5 million due to a buyback clause.
Arsenal’s interest stems from uncertainties about Oleksandr Zinchenko’s future at the club, although any new signing would likely be a reserve to Riccardo Calafiori.
Meanwhile, Liverpool aims to find a successor for Andy Robertson, whose performance has reportedly declined as he’s aged into his thirties.
Liverpool could scupper Arsenal’s deal
Both Arsenal and Liverpool offer appealing football projects, making it hard to choose one over the other as a more desirable destination. However, should Miguel Gutierrez opt for Liverpool, he might find more consistent playing time, especially if the league leaders decide to phase out Andy Robertson and move on from Kostas Tsimikas.
At Arsenal, Riccardo Calafiori fits well into Mikel Arteta’s tactical setup, and Jurrien Timber has also proven effective at left-back, raising questions about Arsenal’s actual interest in Gutierrez. Additionally, Arsenal might prioritize a significant investment in their attacking line this summer, potentially delaying any defensive signings.
Meanwhile, it’s uncertain if Real Madrid will activate their buyback clause for Gutierrez. If they do, it might be with the intention of selling him for a profit later, as Carlo Ancelotti already has Ferland Mendy and Fran Garcia as left-back options and might not seek another in the upcoming transfer window.
Lee Sharpe tips struggling Arsenal star to turn his season around
Raheem Sterling’s loan move to Arsenal is clearly not working out for either him or the club.
Mikel Arteta had high hopes that the Chelsea forward could significantly boost Arsenal’s attack, leading to Reiss Nelson being loaned out to make room for Sterling. Given Sterling’s impressive track record, he was anticipated to bring both depth and flair to Arsenal’s forward line.
However, Sterling’s performance has been underwhelming, echoing the reasons why Chelsea was ready to part ways with him. He’s not living up to his former self, and it’s increasingly evident that he’s struggling to make a positive impact at Arsenal.
Despite this, there was no move to terminate his loan in January, and he remains with the team. Sterling is attempting to recapture his form, but so far, he hasn’t capitalized on his chances.
As the season progresses to its critical phase, former player Lee Sharpe has expressed optimism about Sterling’s potential improvement. Sharpe commented, according to Metro Sport:
‘I’m not sure why he’s not getting picked, maybe it’s something Arteta has seen in training or something else. It’s a shame to see because we know he is capable of producing on the pitch, it’s just a matter of getting that out of him.
‘Arsenal could really do with his help on the right-wing too, considering they’re missing their star man for what looks to be at least another month, so I don’t think this is the last we’ve heard from him this season.’
Despite Lee Sharpe’s hopeful outlook, Raheem Sterling doesn’t seem to be the dynamic player he was during his time at Liverpool and Manchester City. There’s an increasing feeling that Arsenal could be squandering precious time in attempting to restore him to his previous peak performance.
