On June 3rd, Corriere dello Sport reported Unai Emery is leading Aston Villa’s pursuit of Lazio’s Mattéo Guendouzi. It was also said the Premier League side are ready to table a bid for him.
Two days later, the same outlet said the 25-year-old wants to go to Aston Villa. This was before Lazio parted ways with Igor Tudor, and the manager didn’t have good ties with the midfielder.
Il Messaggero say Guendouzi is willing to stay at Lazio after Tudor’s exit, while Aston Villa ‘remain vigilant’ about signing him.
Lazio sporting director Angelo Mariano Fabiani had earlier insisted the former Arsenal man will continue at the club. Despite this, the report says he could still be sold in the summer window.
The Premier League ‘most attracts’ Guendouzi, and his preference there would be to join a Champions League club. Aston Villa fit his requirements, and they are ‘at the window’ to sign him.
Aston Villa’s Douglas Luiz is set to make a switch to Juventus, and the Lazio player could replace him at Villa Park. Il Messaggero haven’t taken into account that the Villans will sign Weston McKennie [and Samuel Iling-Junior] as part of the deal for Luiz.
The France international was a regular when he played under Emery at Arsenal. Taking this into account, Il Messaggero state that it’s ‘not excluded’ for Aston Villa to contact the Biancocelesti, who will not sell Guendouzi for less than €30m.