Former Arsenal midfielder Matteo Guendouzi could be poised for a surprising return to English football, with Sunderland emerging as a potential destination for the French international.
The Sunderland connection
Sunderland manager Regis Le Bris has openly discussed maintaining contact with the 26-year-old midfielder, having previously worked with him at Lorient before Guendouzi's transfer to Arsenal. Le Bris confirmed they "still have connections with players and Matteo is one of those players" when questioned about a potential move.
The Black Cats boss emphasised their ongoing relationship, stating: "I worked with him previously in Lorient so we stay connected." This familiar face at the Stadium of Light could prove crucial in any attempt to lure Guendouzi from Serie A, where he's established himself as a regular under Maurizio Sarri at Lazio.
Arsenal fallout and the Arteta relationship
Guendouzi's original Premier League stint began when he arrived at Arsenal aged just 19 during Unai Emery's tenure. The combative midfielder made 57 appearances across two seasons before his opportunities dramatically diminished following Mikel Arteta's appointment as manager.
While many pointed to Arsenal's 2020 defeat against Brighton as the breaking point - where Guendouzi had a post-match altercation with Neal Maupay that resulted in a red card - the player himself has rejected this theory. Speaking in 2022, Guendouzi claimed journalists used the incident "to say that we had a bad relationship and that's why I stopped playing and left Arsenal."
He clarified: "Not at all. It's a gesture like many on the pitch. There's a lot of tension sometimes, a lot of problems on the pitch. In any case, it has nothing to do with all that."
However, Guendouzi did acknowledge the fundamental issue, admitting: "It's true that I didn't have the best relationship with him." Despite this, he maintained that he "always tried to work, always gave the maximum of myself in training and in matches."
Current situation and potential return
Guendouzi is currently in his third season with Lazio, having initially joined the Italian club on loan from Marseille in the 2023/24 campaign. His impressive performances during that spell, which saw him make 46 appearances, earned him a permanent move to the Serie A side.
Sunderland may face significant challenges in persuading the Frenchman to leave Italy, but the presence of Black Cats captain Granit Xhaka could prove influential. The Swiss international starred alongside Guendouzi during their time together at Arsenal and has flourished under Le Bris this season.
Guendouzi explained his decision to ultimately leave North London, noting: "He [Arteta] preferred other players and I respect that decision. That's why, afterwards, I also decided to leave because I was still young, I needed playing time to continue to progress. The most important when you're young is to play."
Now at 26 and with considerable experience in Germany, France, and Italy behind him, a Premier League return could offer Guendouzi the opportunity to complete what many would consider unfinished business in English football.
