According to a recent report by Football.London, Barcelona are set to battle with Paris Saint-Germain for Arsenal midfielder Matteo Guendouzi during this summer transfer period. The same source has also stated that the Gunners are willing to sanction the French youngster’s exit which could open the door for the Catalans to seal a move for him this summer.
Guendouzi’s Growing Frustrations At North London Last Season
Guendouzi endured a difficult season at the English capital as he struggled to find consistency with his performances at the heart of the Gunners midfield. He featured in 34 matches for the North London outfit in the previous campaign, picking up three assists on all fronts which highlight his shortcomings in the opposition half.
However, the French prospect should get some credit for his defensive contributions based on his average of 1.3 tackles, 1.2 interceptions, 1.4 clearances and 1.0 dribbles per game in the Premier League last season. He has also been excellent when distributing the ball after completing 88.4% of his attempted passes in league football (stats via whoscored).
Guendouzi had a fallout with Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta over his conduct against Brighton and Hove Albion, so he is surplus to requirements at the Emirates Stadium right now. The 21-year-old has represented France at various youth levels but is yet to secure a senior appearance for his homeland. Maybe a move to the Nou Camp could help him make a fresh start and stake a claim in Didier Deschamps’ squad in the years to come.
What Will The French Starlet Bring To The Table?
Guendouzi is a hard-working, box to box midfielder as he can do a bit of everything at the centre of the park. He has been a real bundle of energy in the Arsenal midfield but has failed to make too many meaningful contributions in the final third over the past 12 months. The Frenchman has the tenacity to win his fair share of 50-50 duels with the opposition and is usually a tidy distributor of the ball as well. However, he still has a long way to go before he is ready to be a success story at the highest level.
Should Barca Fight For Guendouzi’s Signature This Summer?
Recruiting an energetic midfielder like Guendouzi could prove to be a shrewd move for the Catalans before the start of the new season. At the moment, he has what it takes to fill in as a useful utility player at the Nou Camp.
Guendouzi could even provide some serious competition for the likes of Ivan Rakitic, Sergio Busquets, Frenkie De Jong, Rique Puig, Arturo Vidal and new signing, Miralem Pjanić at Catalonia next season. At 21, time is on the Frenchman’s side as he looks to improve his game over the next few seasons. With all things considered, Guendouzi is well-worth the fight, so Barca boss Quique Setien should orchestrate a move to bring him to La Liga this summer.
