Lazio midfielder Matteo Guendouzi has once again been linked with a move to Villa Park this summer. The 25 year-old midfielder has been tipped to help fill the void left by the departing Douglas Luiz, should that happen, and as someone who is well known to Unai Emery it is a transfer that could very well happen.
It has been widely reported in Italy that Guendouzi has fallen out with Lazio boss Igor Tudor and that has left a strain on the midfielder's willingness to remain at the club. It has also been reported that contact has been made by Unai Emery several times previously to persuade him to join Aston Villa.
Guendouzi made 33 appearances in Serie A last season and Emery sees him as someone who would provide a real physicality to the midfield. Guendouzi is known as a big character and one that is an aggressive tackler and disruptor of opposition attacks. With Boubacar Kamara likely to be sidelined until at least September, Villa will need to recruit a competent defensive midfielder with Champions League experience.
Italian newspaper Corrier dello Sport last week reported that the players agent had confirmed Villa's interest in the player and as a result the player himself has been pushing to join the Villans. It is expected that the club will submit an offer in the region of 25 million euros in order to tempt Lazio into selling their star midfielder.
One thing that could work against Villa is the news coming out in the last few days that Lazio boss Igor Tudor has resigned from his position as Manager of Lazio. As mentioned earlier, the relationship between Tudor and Guendouzi was certainly fractured and the news that the club will have a new man in charge next season could influence a change of heart for the French international. As widely reported in England, Villa will also need to sell in order to buy and therefore this could be a story that goes on throughout the transfer window.
UTV