Aston Villa have reignited their interest in Lazio midfielder Matteo Guendouzi as manager Unai Emery considers a reunion with his former Arsenal protégé during the January transfer window.
Villa's European Push Strengthened by Defensive Solidity
Unai Emery's side have made an impressive start to the season across multiple competitions, with their current prospects looking significantly brighter than during the previous international break. The Villans reclaimed what they consider a deserved position in the Premier League's top six with a commanding 4-0 victory over Bournemouth, elevating them above rivals Liverpool and Manchester United on goal difference.
While Villa's defensive strength has been a consistent feature throughout the campaign, their performance against Bournemouth represented arguably their most potent attacking display this season. The Birmingham club have maintained three clean sheets in their last four matches, including impressive shutouts against Manchester City and Maccabi Tel Aviv, with only a defeat at Anfield marring an otherwise outstanding run.
Guendouzi Emerges as Prime January Target
According to reports from Football Italia, Aston Villa are showing serious interest in Lazio's French international Matteo Guendouzi, whose influence at the Rome-based club has diminished in recent weeks. The 26-year-old midfielder is no longer considered untouchable by manager Maurizio Sarri following a dip in form, opening the door for a potential Premier League return.
Both Aston Villa and Sunderland have reportedly seen their interest in the player resurface recently, with Lazio prepared to consider offers in the range of €25-30 million (£22-26.5 million). The Italian club's willingness to negotiate represents a significant opportunity for Villa to strengthen their midfield options as they pursue European qualification.
Emery's Previous Praise Highlights Potential Fit
The potential transfer carries particular significance given the existing relationship between player and manager. Guendouzi originally joined Arsenal under Emery's guidance in 2018 as a 19-year-old prospect, making 48 appearances during his debut season under the Spanish tactician.
Emery previously praised the Frenchman's commitment and development during their time together at the Emirates, noting in 2019: "The first impression of him is very good. Since the first weeks in pre-season when he arrived here and started to train, he made a very big decision because he decided that he did not play with his national team in the summer because he wanted to stay and work with us."
The Villa manager added: "He earned the possibility to take a lot of minutes in the first XI because he played very well and his adaptation was very quick. He needs to work every day with ambition like he is doing now."
Despite eventually falling out of favour under Mikel Arteta and departing for Marseille before his move to Lazio, Guendouzi's proven compatibility with Emery's system makes him an intriguing January prospect as Villa look to maintain their momentum across domestic and European competitions.
