Should Arsenal keep or sell Guendouzi in January?
Stefan Bienkowski
- 4 Nov 2021 17:41 CDT
- 7 min read
Arsenal may have to face some difficult questions in the January transfer window as clubs come calling for some of their star players.
However, rather than face offers for Bekayo Saka or Emile Smith Rowe, Mikel Arteta and his backroom staff may find themselves considering offers for none other than Matteo Guendouzi.
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The midfielder is currently on loan at Marseille, but according to Foot Mercato the 22-year-old talent has gained some notable admirers in Newcastle United.
Recently bought over by the Saudi Arabian sovereign fund, the St James’ Park have a huge amount of money to spend and could get very serious over their interest in Guendouzi in the January transfer window.
So should Arsenal resist any offers for their on-loan talent or is now an ideal time to cash in on Guendouzi?
Should Arsenal sell or keep Guendouzi?
The most important factor that will dictate Guendouzi’s future at Arsenal is whether or not Arteta’s side really need the midfielder next season.
In terms of box-to-box midfielders, Arsenal are pretty well stocked in the form of Grant Xhaka, Thomas Partey, Albert Sambi Lokonga and Ainsley Maitland-Niles. And they also have more attacking central midfielders, like Martin Odegaard and Emile Smith Rowe too.
While the young, French talent has certainly looked good for Marseille this season, there’s very little to suggest that he would be able to work his way into a starting position for Arsenal next season.
However, that’s not to say that Guendouzi couldn’t become a valuable squad player for Arsenal and be of immense value in providing necessary cover.
How much could they get for him?
Although Guendouzi hasn’t exactly hit staggering heights with Arsenal, he is now doing well in Ligue 1 and at 22 years of age he is certainly showing signs of having plenty of potential.
Add to that a contract with Arsenal that is set to run until 2023, and the player’s current value stands at around €15 million.
However, it a rival Premier League side like Newcastle were seriously interested in signing the talent in January they would likely be forced to pay around twice that amount to tempt Arsenal into selling him.
