Borussia Dortmund reportedly increase interest in Girona’s Miguel Gutierrez

Ahead of the summer transfer window, one area at Borussia Dortmund that many indicated needed revamping was of course the full-back position. This became even more clear once the club did not sign Ian Maatsen on a permanent deal, allowing the Dutchman to sign for Aston Villa instead.

Since then, the club has cycled through a few options to target to fill the void left behind Maatsen, with the most recent being the duo of Yan Couto (Manchester City) and Miguel Gutierrez (Girona). Both the former and the latter played together at Girona last season, forming a formidable pairing out wide in defense for a side that very much surprised many by finishing third in La Liga after some exemplary performances.

Dortmund’s interest in Couto is now well documented, and it seems that the club will indeed do its best to make said deal a reality, but it is now said that the club, despite not wanting to pay either player's release clause, wants to sign both Couto and Gutierrez for the upcoming season. Gutierrez, as we’ve explored with Couto, is very much a more attacking fullback, with the Spaniard having registered two goals and seven assists in 35 La Liga appearances. His defense numbers, on the other hand, aren’t exactly one of his most redeeming qualities.

Over the last year with Girona, defensively, Gutierrez has registered 0.86 tackles, 0.65 interceptions, 0.8 blocks and 1.96 clearances per 90, which when compared to fullbacks across Europe's top five leagues puts him in a not-so-great position on that front. One of Maatsen’s most admirable qualities was his ability to link defense and attack seamlessly, which having lost makes Gutierrez a possible defensive liability.

The reason that perhaps the Couto signing on its own makes more sense is that it covers a position (right back) with an additional, versatile and quality player that differs in profile from what the club has in Julian Ryerson. With both Bensebaini and Rothe at the club, Dortmund should be set at left back, and with Ryerson’s versatility the club have yet another option for that flank. Right back is by far the more important position for Dortmund to fill at this time, and it’s unlikely that Dortmund could afford both players in the first place based on the club’s spending so far this season.

While Gutierrez is indeed an exciting player and perhaps a signing that could excel at Dortmund, signing both the Spaniard and Couto seems both redundant (due to their similar skill set) and would likely be financially irresponsible considering he does not fit a similar profile to what the club have lost in Maatsen (a player that fit like a glove no less). Couto simply offers more from a perspective of necessity and tactical versatility, which means he should be the focus of the club's efforts, barring perhaps a sale on the left back front or the miraculous discovery of some long-lost transfer war chest that the club has been saving for a rainy day. Its unlikely, but one can perhaps dream.