Arsenal are offering Matteo Guendouzi to rival clubs in a bid to revamp their squad. The 21-year-old midfielder has been axed from Mikel Arteta’s squad for the last four fixtures due to “internal issues”.
Arsenal are looking to strengthen their midfield in the summer but have limited room in their budget to add new players.
Swap deals could be the way forward – and Guendouzi is a potential candidate to utilise.
He has been sidelined since a confrontation with Brighton and Hove Albion striker Neal Maupay during last month’s 2-1 defeat to the Seagulls, a game during which he was allegedly bragging about his wages.
Guendouzi has two years left to run on his contract but Arsenal are attempting to move him on, according to The Athletic‘s David Ornstein.
“Matteo Guendouzi, I think it looks like his time at Arsenal is coming to an end,” Ornstein said on The Conv3rsation Podcast.
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“Arsenal are offering him in exchange for players they might like to come in, in swap deals.
“If they as a club think they can bring in money, significant money, or a big swap deal, then clearly that’s something they’ve thought through.
“As things stand, I think there’s a good chance he’ll be leaving.”
Guendouzi has been a regular since arriving from Lorient for £7million in 2018.
Arteta has admitted there are likely to be “bumps” in the road during the Frenchman’s development.
“When Arsenal picked him to come here it’s because they could obviously see the potential and the qualities that Matteo has,” he said.
“He’s a really young player and he’s still in development.
“When you are developing, the curve is not normally so much straightforward, you have to have some bumps and you have to adapt to it.
“Then in the process, you have to find the things you’ve done right and the things you’ve done wrong, like any other player.”
Mesut Ozil has also been absent since the Premier League restart.
And Arteta has warned Guendouzi and Ozil that they must be “100 per cent committed to our culture” if they want to win back a place in his team.
The Arsenal boss said: “Players that are ready to help each other, fight for each other and enjoy playing together. That is what I mean by being in the boat.
“If you behave like this every day you are very, very welcome here and we want to get the best out of you and help you to enjoy your profession with us.”
Arsenal’s top transfer target is Atletico Madrid midfielder Thomas Partey.
Alexandre Lacazette has also been mooted as a potential swap option for Partey.
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