Newcastle United will have to pay almost £20million to land Matteo Guendouzi, with the former Arsenal man reportedly being targeted for a transfer.
The France international returned to Ligue 1 with Marseille in the summer of 2021, initially on loan, before a deal was made permanent. The 24-year-old has impressed since, being part of a Marseille side who have pushed PSG hard this season and currently sit second in the table, losing just twice in the league since the return from the World Cup break in January.
The interest from Newcastle and a host of other Premier League clubs was first reported by L’Équipe, with Foot Mercato adding that Marseille want to move the player on and replace him with current Chelsea loanee Dennis Zakaria. This comes as Newcastle seek to add Champions league experience to their squad this summer.
A €20 million (£17.7m) transfer fee is expected to be demanded from the French club, for a player who is tied into two more years of a contract signed last summer.
Guendouzi made six appearances in the competition this season for OM, with two wins against Sporting not enough to seal qualification He was also called up to the France squad for the World Cup, with his performances recognised by Didier Deschamps and rewarded with a start in the final group match against Tunisia.
The central midfielder, who is accustomed to playing a deep-lying role, had an eventful first spell in the Premier League. He was favoured by Unai Emery, making 48 appearances in his first season, before becoming sidelined by Mikel Arteta as the pair failed to see eye-to-eye.
He was banished to the U21 squad in the summer of 2020 by Mikel Arteta, following an incident with Brighton striker Neal Maupay during an ill-tempered match on the South Coast. He subsequently joined a struggling Hertha Berlin side on loan before settling in the South of France.
This was said to be part of an ongoing problem with attitude at the time, with the player being notoriously demanding of his teammates. In 2021 it was reported that a similar issue had arisen at Marseille, but he has retained an important role with the team thanks to quality performances at Stade Velodrome.
Villa are another club in the mix to sign the combative midfielder and they have a sizeable advantage due to the presence of Emery. The Spaniard has worked miracles at Villa Park and is targeting players to continue their rapid progression under his stewardship.
And Guendouzi is a fan on the Villa gaffer, gushing praise on him after he guided Villarreal to the Europa League in 2021. "What a journey! This Football… so smart and elegant. You made the dream of an entire city, of a club, a team, and of all the fans come true!
“You did it! You know how to win trophies! Hats off Monsieur Emery. You are so unique.”
He added: “I am honored (sic) and proud to have had the opportunity to evolve by your side. Words will never be strong enough to qualify your personality, your benevolence and your authenticity in human relationships."
