Newcastle United and Aston Villa could explore a move for Matteo Guendouzi, who may want to exit Marseille after losing his place.
According to Le 10 Sport, Newcastle United and Aston Villa are among those considering moving for Matteo Guendouzi. They plan to bring the 24-year-old Frenchman back to the Premier League after a mixed period at Marseille, where he has lost his regular spot.
Matteo Guendouzi was to have a promising career once he started playing for Arsenal at a young age. After arriving in 2018, the 24-year-old Frenchman performed well in a tepid Gunners side.
Having continued his bright performances, Mikel Arteta did not feel the midfielder improved his setup. The Spanish boss banished the 24-year-old Frenchman from his squad following a show of indiscipline in a loss against Brighton.
Arteta sanctioned a loan move to Hertha Berlin, which proved good for the midfielder. He was again sent out temporarily the following season, this time to Marseille. They took up the buy option in his contract to make the more permanent.
After enjoying regular football under Jorge Sampaoli, he has seen a restricted role under Igor Tudor. While the Croatian manager has departed, there are uncertainties about Guendouzi wanting to prolong his career at the club. For their part, Marseille are open to reasonable offers, with media outlets in January claiming they could demand €50 million.
It’s unlikely clubs will part with that sort of money for the midfielder. Newcastle United and Aston Villa are keen on the 24-year-old Frenchman, with the latter interested since January. Unai Emery had eyes on a reunion with the former Arsenal man and was eager to bring him back to the Premier League.
While they could have made a move, chances are slim now, considering Emery has already signed Youri Tielemans on a free transfer. Moreover, Villa are also keen on signing Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain on a free transfer. Those moves could allow the manager to use his transfer funds to strengthen other areas.
As for Newcastle United, Eddie Howe wants a new midfielder for the new season. There’s a need to bring quality stars into the mix following their qualification for next season’s Champions League. Manchester United’s Scott McTominay remains a target, but Guendouzi could also come into the mix.
The 24-year-old Frenchman’s style could give Howe a different option, while his robustness could become an asset. Any move will depend on Marseille’s asking price, as the Magpies will not pay beyond a certain limit.
Money is not a problem for Newcastle, but they have not overpaid for their targets since the Saudi-based takeover in 2021. They might enquire about the Frenchman but will not engage if the demands are unreasonable.
