Aston Villa to sign ex-Arsenal misfit Guendouzi?

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery is preparing a transfer offer to sign France international defensive midfielder Matteo Guendouzi, with a bid of around £25 million likely to be accepted. The former Arsenal midfielder, who left to join Marseille on a permanent basis last month, is ready for a return to England where he is eager to prove himself at the highest level.

Guendouzi arrived at the Gunners in 2018 from Lorient, playing 57 Premier League games and initially finding himself as a firm fan favourite in North London. However, after a couple of years at the Emirates issues with the player's temperament began to emerge, and manager Mikel Arteta decided to let the player depart for Hertha BSC on loan in 2020, followed by another loan spell in France with Marseille. Following that spell, the Ligue 1 side eventually moved for the 23-year-old on a permanent basis.

Since his arrival back in England from Villarreal, Unai Emery has reversed Aston Villa's poor fortune under ex-manager Steven Gerrard, and now looks set to be rewarded with a large transfer fund for new players. It is understood that Guendouzi is Emery's primary target.