Marseille's Matteo Guendouzi during the warm up before the match
Aston Villa signing Marseille midfielder Matteo Guendouzi is a genuine possibility this summer, according to journalist Ashley Preece.
The Lowdown: Guendouzi linked January move
The Frenchman made a name for himself as a youngster during his Arsenal days but he has since matured into a much more rounded performer for Marseille, starting 19 games in Ligue 1 this season.
Guendouzi was linked with a move to Villa during the January transfer window but it was a move that didn’t materialise and he stayed put in France.
It looks as though there are still legs to the saga, however, following a key new update.
The Latest: Summer transfer on
Writing in a Q&A for The Birmingham Mail, Preece backed Villa’s move for Guendouzi to come to fruition:
“If you’re asking me now…I expect Guendouzi to happen.”
The Verdict: Good deal?
Villa’s midfield could certainly do with extra depth and quality ahead of next season, with Unai Emery looking to take his team up another gear in his first full campaign in charge.
In Guendouzi, the Villans could acquire the signature of an excellent player – one who was part of the France squad that reached the 2022 World Cup final and someone who has been hailed as a ‘natural leader’ by former Marseille boss Jorge Sampaoli.
A pass completion rate of 88.6% in Ligue 1 this season highlights Guendouzi’s quality in possession, but he is also averaging 1.2 tackles per game, showing that he is effective off the ball.
The fact that the £42,000-a-week midfielder already has 57 Premier League appearances to his name is an added bonus, some of which under Emery, already being familiar with both the division and manager’s system.
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