Bayer Leverkusen have identified Girona’s former star as the ideal successor to Alejandro Grimaldo, seeking to replicate his creative output through the Spaniard’s elite attacking profile.
Bayer Leverkusen's search for life after Alejandro Grimaldo has led them to one of Spain's most talented full-backs.
According to journalist Guillermo Rai, the Bundesliga side has identified Miguel Gutiérrez as a priority target to replace Grimaldo, who completed a €25 million move to Atlético Madrid earlier this summer.
The interest comes as Leverkusen look to fill one of the biggest voids in their squad. Grimaldo was far more than a conventional left-back during his time at the BayArena. His creativity, technical quality and ability to dictate attacks from wide areas made him one of the Bundesliga's most influential defenders, leaving sporting director Simon Rolfes with a difficult task in the transfer market.
Gutiérrez appears to fit the profile.
On paper, the comparison is obvious. Both are Spanish, technically gifted and attack-minded left-backs. But the similarities go much deeper than nationality or position.
Like Grimaldo, Gutiérrez is a full-back whose greatest influence comes with the ball at his feet.
After progressing through Real Madrid's famed La Fábrica academy, the now 25-year-old made his breakthrough at Girona, where Michel transformed him into one of the most intriguing full-backs in European football. Rather than hugging the touchline throughout matches, Gutiérrez became an extra midfielder whenever Girona had possession.
Instead of constantly overlapping the winger, Gutiérrez frequently drifted into central areas during the build-up, helping Girona dominate possession before making perfectly timed underlapping runs into the penalty area. It was a tactical system that demanded intelligence as much as athleticism, and few players executed it better.
His numbers reflected that influence.
During Girona's remarkable rise, Gutiérrez established himself as one of La Liga's most creative defenders. His passing accuracy consistently ranked among the league's elite full-backs, while his chance creation placed him in the company of Europe's best players in his position. Rather than relying solely on crosses, he became a genuine playmaker from deep, capable of progressing attacks through combinations, disguised passes and intelligent movement between the lines.
That versatility eventually convinced Napoli to invest around €18 million, bringing him to Serie A as part of their long-term rebuild.
Now Bayer Leverkusen believe he could be the ideal successor to Grimaldo.
Should Leverkusen land Gutiérrez, the club would likely complement him with a more defensively minded right-back, creating greater balance across the back line. If they instead pursue a player such as Medina, Bayer could afford to recruit a more attack-oriented option on the opposite flank.
Leverkusen are eager to complete their defensive rebuild before the new Bundesliga campaign gathers pace, and replacing Grimaldo remains one of their top priorities. While no formal agreement has yet been reached, Gutiérrez has now emerged as one of the standout names under serious consideration.
For a club looking to replace one of Europe's most productive full-backs, few candidates appear more naturally suited to the task than the former Real Madrid academy graduate.
