Aston Villa ‘could make offer’ to land £43m-rated ex-Arsenal midfielder in blockbuster summer transfer
Unai Emery Eyes Matteo Guendouzi as Aston Villa Plan Midfield Reinforcement
Unai Emery has brought a new level of consistency and ambition to Aston Villa since his appointment in 2022. The experienced Spanish coach, who previously held high-profile roles at clubs such as Paris Saint-Germain, Arsenal, and Villarreal, is currently preparing for his third season at the helm at Villa Park. Under his leadership, the West Midlands outfit has made notable progress both domestically and in European competitions, and Emery is keen to keep that momentum going as the 2025/26 campaign approaches.
As part of their summer transfer strategy, Aston Villa are reportedly exploring the possibility of signing Lazio midfielder Matteo Guendouzi. According to a report by Corriere della Sera, Villa could soon table a formal offer for the French international, who is currently valued at around £43 million. However, they are not alone in their interest, with Premier League rivals Newcastle United also said to be monitoring the situation closely.
Guendouzi, now 26 years old, has emerged as one of Lazio’s standout performers since his arrival in 2023. Initially signed on loan from Marseille, his move was swiftly made permanent after he impressed in Serie A. The Poissy-born midfielder has since become a key figure in the Italian side’s setup and is now considered one of their most valuable assets. His performances have caught the attention of several top-flight clubs, making Lazio’s task of retaining him this summer increasingly difficult.
Guendouzi’s career trajectory has been an interesting one. He began his footballing journey in the youth ranks of Paris Saint-Germain before making his senior debut with FC Lorient. It was there that he caught the eye of Arsenal, who secured his services in 2018. Despite flashes of brilliance and a strong start in North London, Guendouzi’s relationship with then-manager Mikel Arteta began to sour. He found himself on the fringes of the squad and was subsequently loaned out to Hertha Berlin and Marseille in search of regular playing time and further development.
Reflecting on his time at Arsenal, Guendouzi later revealed:
“It’s true that I didn’t have the best relationship with [Mikel Arteta]. That said, I always gave my best in training and in matches. I still played a few games under him and put in good performances. But he had his preferences, and I respect that. I needed to be playing regularly at that stage of my career, so I decided to move on.”
Should Aston Villa succeed in landing Guendouzi, he would add depth, energy, and dynamism to Emery’s midfield options. His versatility and box-to-box qualities could offer something unique alongside current midfielders like Youri Tielemans, John McGinn, and Amadou Onana. His ability to drive forward with the ball and compete physically in central areas could prove invaluable over a long season, especially with Villa set to compete on multiple fronts once again.
Villa narrowly missed out on Champions League qualification last season, suffering a disappointing 2-0 defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford on the final day. That result saw them finish outside the top five, meaning they’ll be competing in the Europa League rather than Europe’s premier competition. Despite that setback, there is still a sense of optimism at Villa Park. Emery and his staff are confident the team can bounce back, strengthen key areas, and make another push for a top-four finish in the upcoming campaign.
The addition of a player like Guendouzi could signal Villa’s intent to not just participate in European competition, but to challenge seriously on all fronts. Whether they can beat out the competition for his signature remains to be seen, but what’s clear is that Unai Emery is keen to continue building a squad capable of challenging the Premier League’s traditional elite.