Liverpool scouts will have been impressed by £34m CL player last night after reports they watched him - opinion
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Liverpool have enjoyed their big return to the Champions League this week after collecting an impressive three points against AC Milan.
The Reds were away from Europe’s top club competition last season for the first time in seven years and dearly missed it.
Now back in the big time, Liverpool have already shown why they will always be considered one of the continent’s biggest forces.
Liverpool’s history demands that they challenge in the Champions League and after an impressive 3-1 win against Milan, Alan Shearer has predicted whether they will again.
In the meantime, the competition has a brand new format this season, allowing 36 teams to compete rather than the usual 32. Within that, there are a few clubs making their tournament debuts.
One of the more eye-catching of these is Girona, who played for the first time on Wednesday. And according to reports this week, Liverpool scouts were there to watch them.
Liverpool scouting Miguel Gutierrez
Girona have done amazingly well to qualify for the Champions League at all.
All things to do with the club should of course come with the caveat of being part of the City Group, but a third place La Liga finish in 23/24 was incredibly impressive all the same.
When you look through the Girona squad, though, it really is packed with quality. Liverpool reportedly seem to think so anyway.
There have been claims that the Reds were in Paris on Wednesday to watch Girona take on PSG. The two focuses of their attention were said to be left-back Miguel Gutierrez and winger Victor Tsygankov.
READ MORE: £60m midfielder confirms his club blocked move this summer after claims Liverpool almost signed him
Tsygankov is an eye-catching left-footed right winger, but as he turns 27 in November, we really don’t see why he would a target for Liverpool.
Gutierrez is a very interesting one, though. Liverpool may need a new left-back relatively soon and have reportedly been looking into signing Rayan Ait Nouri from Wolves.
A Real Madrid youth academy graduate, Gutierrez should be another candidate. Now 23, the Spaniard is into his third season at Girona having made his Madrid debut as a 19-year-old.
The step up to the Champions League provides Gutierrez with another opportunity to show his development. And despite a narrow 1-0 defeat to PSG on Wednesday, he looked to have done just that.
How did Miguel Gutierrez get on?
Starting – as ever – at left-back, Gutierrez was faced with the prospect of shackling the tricky Ousmane Dembele on the PSG right.
And over a full 90 minute appearance, the former Real Madrid man did his job manfully.
Gutierrez won two out of three tackles, made one block, three clearances and won four out of his five duels. Impressive numbers.
Going forward Gutierrez was slightly less effective. The 23-year-old did post a pass accuracy of 70%, though, which isn’t bad and also managed to create a chance for Girona.
All in all, if Liverpool scouts were in the stands at the Parc des Princes, they will no doubt have come away wanting to see more of Gutierrez. According to AS, the defender has a release clause of around £34m and as a result, we think this is one to watch.
