Arsenal midfielder Matteo Guendouzi has reportedly agreed to join Marseille, who are expected to begin talks over a potential summer move.
According to L’Equipe, Matteo Guendouzi has moved one step closer towards sealing a permanent exit from Arsenal. It appears the midfielder has agreed to join Marseille in the new season, after failing to win over Mikel Arteta during his time at Emirates.
The Ligue 1 outfit are yet to hold any negotiations over the switch with Arsenal, but talks are expected to begin soon. Guendouzi most recently plied his trade at Hertha Berlin, a club he joined last summer in a season-long loan deal.
It did not take long for the Frenchman to become a first-team regular for the capital club. His performances were rather impressive as well, but the player was a victim of the mediocrity that surrounded Hertha this season, as the club finished 14th in the league table, level with newly-promoted Arminia Bielefeld.
Guendouzi has endured a difficult time at Arsenal as well. His aggressive personality is not welcome in the Gunners camp by Mikel Arteta, who prefers a more down to earth, disciplined approach towards the game. It was a reason why the midfielder was involved in multiple fall-outs with the Spaniard during the second half of last season.
From a sporting perspective, Guendouzi’s sale could also be necessary for Arsenal’s attempts to undergo a squad overhaul in the summer. The north London giants are reportedly eyeing a swoop for Sheffield United’s Sander Berge.
Guendouzi is likely to be joined by Lucas Torreira in the long list of Arsenal players expected to depart the Emirates in the summer. Neither midfielder is included in Arteta’s long-term plans and have endured a mixed time in their respective loan spells at Hertha Berlin and Atletico Madrid.
Even Granit Xhaka could join the list, as the Swiss international is apparently wanted by former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho at AS Roma. As for Guendouzi, he used to play for Lorient prior to his move to Arsenal, so a return to Ligue 1 could go a long way in helping him revive his career.
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Arsenal, meanwhile, could use the potential sale of Guendouzi, Torreira and a few other stars to fund move for a few marquee players in the summer. One such player might just be Manchester City’s attacking star Raheem Sterling, who might be set for a shock exit from Etihad, especially after an underwhelming performance in the Champions League final against Chelsea.
