Unai Emery to bolster Aston Villa squad with Matteo Guendouzi transfer after Douglas Luiz update
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery will bolster his squad with Matteo Guendouzi during the summer transfer window, according to Alan Hutton.
Reports have suggested that the Villans have opened preliminary talks to bring the former Arsenal midfielder to Villa Park during the summer transfer window as Emery looks to ready his squad for next season [Football Insider, 12 June].
Villa are set to suffer a major setback early in the window, with reports suggesting Douglas Luiz is closing in on a move to Juventus that will see Weston McKennie and Samuel Iling-Junior head the other way [Fabrizio Romano, 11 June].
Although Hutton doesn’t believe Guendouzi has the ability to immediately step into the Brazilian’s shoes, he does admit that he could help Emery’s side as they look to navigate their way through the Champions League next season.
“I don’t know if he would be the perfect replacement,” Hutton exclusively told Villa News.
“He can be a bit of a hot head, I don’t know if he’s settled down since he was last in England, but again he’s a good player.
“I can’t sit here and say that I watch him week in and week out, but I know he’s a decent enough player. Is he going to come in and replicate everything that Douglas Luiz has done? I don’t think so.
“But again, if you’re looking to bolster your squad and make it stronger because you are going to need it on a long season, especially with European football, then of course that’s fine.
“But I’m not sure about him coming in and being that guy to replace Douglas Luiz.”
Will Douglas Luiz leave Aston Villa and Villa Park for Juventus in summer transfer window?
It was always going to be hard for Villa to replace Luiz this summer. Few players have been as effective as the Brazilian in the Premier League over the last few years and that means a replacement will cross more than a pretty penny.
Guendouzi is far from perfect, but he does have experience at the top level in a number of countries. Even if he is only signed to play one game in every three to give Youri Tielemans a rest, the 25-year-old could well be a worthwhile investment.
The French international’s best football has been played under Emery in the past. Maybe, if he does make the move to Villa Park, he will be able to rediscover that ability that made him such a menace during his time at Arsenal.
Whether or not this move goes ahead will likely be decided in the coming weeks.
In other Aston Villa news, Emi Martinez’s stance on a summer exit has emerged as a big-money offer was mooted at Villa Park
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