Arsenal are on the verge of completing the transfer of Matteo Guendouzi, according to reports. The Lorient midfielder is expected to leave the club following a rough season and a move to Arsenal is just a matter of time, as per French news outlet Ouest-France.
It is understood that the French Under-20 midfielder is apparently unhappy at his current club Lorient after falling out with the manager. Despite being a regular first team starter during the first phase of the campaign, his fall-out with the trainer in the second half of the game against Valenciennes in November saw him dropped from the squad.
Even though he did make a comeback into the starting eleven in February, his omission from the squad in April made it clear that the youngster is destined to depart the club this summer.
Highly regarded as one of the most promising talents to come out of Lorient’s youth academy, Matteo Guendouzi is a French midfielder of Moroccan origin. After being transferred from the PSG’s youth academy to Lorient early on in his career, the 19-year-old has made incredible progress in youth leagues over the past couple of seasons.
Since joining Lorient’s under-19 squad in 2014, Guendouzi was quickly promoted to the reserve side before making his first appearance for the senior side in 2016. In fact, the young defensive midfielder played eight Ligue 1 games for Lorient in the 2016/17 season even though his side ended up getting relegated. Currently, a member of the French under-20 side, Guendouzi is widely tipped as a big talent by experts and a move to Arsenal could definitely help him progress in arguably the most competitive league in the world.
Although the 19-year-old is probably not ready for Premier League action as of yet, his addition to the team could further solidify Arsenal’s strength in the midfield department, especially after the departure of Francis Coquelin last season. In addition, veteran midfielder Santi Cazorla is also training with Villarreal having left on a free transfer while Mohamed Elneny’s form in the English top flight has been topsy-turvy.
Thus, his acquisition could provide Arsenal with some much-needed depth in midfield. Additionally, the Gunners have lacked the services of a proper defensive midfielder in recent years and considering Guendouzi’s industrious style of play in the middle third of the pitch, he might as well be handed with a few opportunities down the line this season.
Although it remains to be seen how Arsenal shape up their squad before the start of the upcoming season as they look to usher in a new era following the departure of the legendary Arsene Wenger.
