West Ham United will reportedly compete with Aston Villa for the signature of 23-year-old Marseille midfielder Matteo Guendouzi.
Speaking on L’Equipe, as relayed by West Ham Zone, French journalist Mathieu Gregoire has revealed a new suitor for Matteo Guendouzi. The 23-year-old World Cup finalist is the subject of interest from West Ham United, with Aston Villa also keen on signing him from Marseille.
Matteo Guendouzi has endured a topsy-turvy ride thus far in his professional career at the club level. The Frenchman rose to prominence during his stint with Lorient. But the move to Arsenal helped him become a household name. However, the youngster’s stature reduced significantly under Mikel Arteta due to his attitude issues.
The 23-year-old subsequently joined Marseille on loan in July 2021, and his stock has risen again. The player completed a permanent move to Marseille last summer and has featured 25 times thus far this season. Guendouzi also reached the FIFA World Cup 2022 final with France. Meanwhile, the youngster’s progress has captured the attention of Aston Villa and West Ham United.
Aston Villa first showed interest in the former Arsenal midfielder a couple of weeks ago. And after Boubacar Kamara in the summer, Guendouzi can become the second Marseille midfielder to move to Villa Park. Meanwhile, the interest in the 23-year-old World Cup finalist is hardly surprising amid Morgan Sanson’s travails.
The French midfielder has joined RC Strasbourg on loan and seems to have played his final game for Aston Villa. And the Villans have been discussing a deal for the 23-year-old with Marseille. But Aston Villa will face stiff competition from fellow Premier League club West Ham United.
West Ham will likely lose Declan Rice in the summer transfer window. In addition, the Hammers need to resurrect their stuttering campaign. And with Tomas Soucek blowing hot and cold, West Ham can do with a midfield reinforcement. But their position on the Premier League table might be a deterrent.
So the fast-rising Aston Villa might hold the aces in the race to sign Guendouzi. But it will be interesting to see if West Ham can somehow beat the Villans to the 23-year-old World Cup finalist. With only two days left in the transfer window, a late departure seems unlikely.
