Aston Villa Join Newcastle & Serie A Giants in the Race for €35M Lazio Star | OneFootball

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery is reportedly pushing for a reunion with Lazio midfielder Matteo Guendouzi.

Old Arsenal Ties

The Spanish manager played an instrumental role in launching the midfielder to stardom at a young age during their time together at Arsenal. The 26-year-old then returned to France through the gates of Marseille, before signing for Lazio in the summer of 2023, and cementing himself as a pillar for the club.

Unai Emery Wants Matteo Guendouzi Reuinion

For his part, Emery has been producing phenomenal results at Villa Park. And despite boasting top-notch midfield talent at his disposal (like Tielemans, Onana and McGinn), a reunion with Guendouzi remains enticing.

Inter Milan & Newcastle Also in the Guendouzi Race

According to InterLive, the Villains are in the fray for the Frenchman, as are Newcastle United and Inter Milan. The source claims that Lazio president Claudio Lotito would be willing to sell the dynamic midfielder for €35 million.

(Photo by Marco Rosi – SS Lazio/Getty Images)

The source adds that Inter aren’t willing to pay this figure for a player who might not even lock himself a starting spot due to the stern competition for places. Therefore, Newcastle and Villa could have the upper hand in the race, as they also enjoy healthier finances compared to the reigning Italian champions.

The Champions League Factor

Nevertheless, it should be noted that Lazio’s transfer strategy will be heavily impacted by the outcome of the Champions League race. In other words, the Biancocelesti would be more likely to resist lucrative offers and retain some of their biggest stars if they managed to book their spot in Europe’s elite club competition.