West Ham United want Matteo Guendouzi and believe the former Arsenal man can make a big Premier League impact.
That is according to a report from The Athletic, who suggest that West Ham are looking to sign Guendouzi this summer.
It’s stated that West Ham fancy Guendouzi as a replacement for Declan Rice.
The England international is widely expected to leave West Ham this summer amid major Premier League interest.
Arsenal are thought to be very interested in Rice and it’s somewhat ironic that a midfielder they ditched in Guendouzi could replace him.
West Ham seemingly believe that Guendouzi ‘would fit in well’ in the Premier League despite his Arsenal exit.
Guendouzi has experience playing as a deep midfielder or as a box-to-box player just like Rice, and there is still untapped potential in him at 24.
Mikel Arteta just didn’t fancy Matteo Guendouzi
Guendouzi was signed by Arsenal in the summer of 2018 as one of the first additions of the Unai Emery era.
The midfielder initially showed promise at Lorient and then displayed huge potential under Emery.
That didn’t really continue under Mikel Arteta though and it became clear that the Spaniard just didn’t want him.
Guendouzi was loaned out to Hertha Berlin for the 2020-21 season before heading on loan to Marseille in 2021.
The deal was turned permanent for a bargain £9million fee last summer as Arsenal allowed Guendouzi to join Marseille permanently.
Guendouzi continues to shine for Marseille and West Ham now want to give him a return to London.
That would be a fascinating move, but don’t count out Emery here.
Aston Villa were keen on signing Guendouzi in January according to Foot Mercato and it wouldn’t be a shock to see Emery try again amid West Ham’s interest.
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