Newcastle transfer news: What Shearer has already said about Guendouzi

Newcastle United have reportedly entered the race to sign Marseille’s Matteo Guendouzi.

The Magpies are apparently on the lookout for midfield reinforcements come the end of the season.

Newcastle are currently light in the middle of the park and failed to replace Jonjo Shelvey when he left in January.

According to L’Equipe, the St James’ Park outfit is one of three Premier League clubs eyeing Guendouzi.

As well as Newcastle, Aston Villa and West Ham United are also pursuing the 24-year-old box-to-box midfielder.

According to Le10Sport, via the Birmingham Mail, Guendouzi has a £22million price tag.

‘Warrior’

Guendouzi is a solid player who has come a long way since his Arsenal days and would be a good shout for Newcastle.

The Magpies would not only benefit from his massive talent, but from a much more mature and composed player.

His Gunners career began brightly enough, clocking up 82 appearances, and many thought he’d become a future star for the club.

MORE NEWCASTLE UNITED STORIES

In September 2019, Newcastle legend Alan Shearer said Guendouzi was the “warrior” Arsenal needed in a match against Aston Villa.

However, Mikel Arteta opted to freeze Guendouzi out following the midfielder’s altercation with an opposition player.

The Frenchman spent two seasons away from Arsenal on loan, at Hertha Berlin and Marseille.

In 2022, the Ligue 1 side activated their option to buy him for a reported £9million after a successful loan stint.

Guendouzi has clocked up 94 competitive appearances for his club, also registering 10 goals and 18 assists.

In June 2022, scouting outlet Breaking the Lines lauded the Newcastle target’s ‘renaissance’ at Marseille.

‘As tenacious as ever and always ready to fight for the shirt he is wearing, there is now a thoughtfulness to his approach,’ they wrote.

‘The rash decisions are becoming less frequent, and the ill-judged tackles are being cut out of his game.

‘Guendouzi is an incredibly exciting player who is back on the right trajectory.

‘There is no reason why he can’t go on to become one of the best midfielders for club and country.

‘Under Jorge Sampaoli’s direction and with the OM fans behind him the future looks incredibly bright for Matteo Guendouzi.’