Aston Villa transfer news: Matteo Guendouzi may be available in January for a club-record fee

By Ben Evans

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery will want to use the January transfer window to mould the squad in his image.

He’s already acted quickly, bringing in Real Betis defender Alex Moreno for £13m.

A report from Le10Sport has provided an update on another potential Villa target.

Aston Villa are an ambitious club, and will hope they can start looking up the table now under Emery.

Bringing in the likes of Philippe Coutinho and Diego Carlos show where Villa want to be in the league.

Unfortunately, neither signing has worked out as expected, with Carlos picking up a serious injury.

However, Emery will have a clear idea of how he wants to improve this Villa side.

Villa have been linked with his former player Matteo Guendouzi in recent days.

Now at Marseille, the French international didn’t enjoy a brilliant spell at Arsenal under Emery.

However, he’s thriving in France, and was part of the squad that reached the World Cup final in Qatar.

Le10Sport now believe that Marseille want a club-record fee to sell Guendouzi in January.

Whether Villa think the combative midfielder is worth that is yet to be seen.

Marseille want club-record fee for Guendouzi

The report states that Marseille ‘will only agree to sell him if there is an offer of up to €50m [£44m]’.

Le10Sport believe Aston Villa are only ready to spend up to £26.5m on Guendouzi right now, which is a significant difference.

Guendouzi has played Champions League football for Marseille this season, and the French club are currently third in the league.

It might not be easy to tempt the young Frenchman away from a side chasing European football once again.

The biggest fee Marseille have ever received for a player was £34.5m for Michy Batshuayi when he went to Chelsea.

Marseille will be confident they could reinvest a club-record fee for Guendouzi wisely, but would rather keep the player.

If Guendouzi does want to return to the Premier League, Villa offers him a brilliant opportunity.

He could line alongside Boubacar Kamara and Douglas Luiz in midfield, which is certainly an impressive trio.