Aston Villa are reportedly in talks to sign Arsenal midfielder Matteo Guendouzi from Marseille in a part-exchange deal.
According to a report from Football Insider, Matteo Guendouzi is one of Aston Villa’s top targets of the January transfer window. And Unai Emery is hoping for a reunion with the Frenchman as part of a swap deal including Morgan Sanson. But Marseille want £30 million for the former Arsenal midfielder.
Emery signed Guendouzi for Arsenal, and he has a good relationship with the player. Apparently, the Aston Villa manager wanted to sign him for Villarreal as well. Aston Villa could certainly use more quality in the middle of the park, and Guendouzi has emerged as a long-term target for the West Midlands club.
The report claims that Aston Villa have begun negotiations with Marseille regarding a deal for the Frenchman, who is valued at £30 million. Apparently, Villa are hoping to reduce the asking price by offering a player in part exchange. Morgan Sanson is reported to be an expendable asset for the Villans, and they are hoping to include him in a deal to sign Guendouzi.
It will be interesting to see if the French outfit are willing to accept the offer over the next few days or if they stick to their £30 million valuation. Guendouzi, who reached the 2022 FIFA World Cup with France, could form a quality partnership with Douglas Luiz in the middle of the park.
Aston Villa have improved significantly since the arrival of Unai Emery, and they will be targeting a top-half finish this season. They will need to improve their squad to finish the season strongly. And Guendouzi has the quality to improve them.
The 23-year-old has played in the Premier League before and should be able to settle in quickly and make an immediate impact. Furthermore, he is used to playing under Emery and knows the Spaniard’s system will. The Aston Villa manager has reportedly made personal contact with the midfielder and explained to him how he will be a part of his Aston Villa project.
The 23-year-old World Cup finalist has the potential to develop into a top-class player. And playing under Unai Emery could help him realise his potential. The Spaniard clearly rates Guendouzi highly. And it remains to be seen whether Aston Villa can get a deal across the line before the January window closes.
