West Ham linked with summer transfer swoop for Aston Villa and Newcastle United target

West Ham are being linked with a summer swoop for former Arsenal midfielder Matteo Guendouzi. The France international has caught the eye in Ligue 1 over recent times and appears to be a wanted man back in the Premier League.

French news outlet L’Equipe (via Sport Witness) claim the Hammers are interested in luring him to the London Stadium in the next transfer window. However, they will have to face competition from rivals Aston Villa and Newcastle United.

West Ham could see the 24-year-old as a potential replacement for Declan Rice in the middle of the park. David Moyes’ side will face a battle to keep their main man at the end of this campaign amid links to the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City.

Guendouzi was on the books at the Emirates Stadium from 2018 to 2022. The Gunners snapped him up as a youngster after he had spells at PSG and FC Lorient in his native country.

He went on to make 82 appearances in all competitions for the London outfit and chipped in with a single goal. Loan spells at Hertha Berlin in the Bundesliga and Marseille then followed on after his game time dried up and he ended up joining the latter on a permanent basis last July.

Guendouzi has since established himself as a key player at the Stade Vélodrome but is reportedly a target for teams back in England including West Ham. The Hammers lost 4-3 to Crystal Palace over the weekend.