Lazio’s Matteo Guendouzi has doubts about Sunderland move

Lazio midfielder Matteo Guendouzi is tempted by a return to the Premier League, but a move to the recently promoted Sunderland is not appealing to him, according to a report from Calciomercato.

The French international is ambitious and wants to play on important stages to win back his spot in the French national team. While the prospect of playing in England’s top flight is attractive to him, the report specifies that Sunderland “is not exactly the prototype of the top club the player aspires to join”.

The report confirms that Sunderland has made a concrete move, submitting an offer of £20 million (just under €23 million) for the player’s transfer fee. This figure, however, is considered low compared to Lazio’s demands, with the club seeking no less than €30 million to sell him in January.

Despite manager Maurizio Sarri considering Guendouzi “irreplaceable,” Lazio needs to generate funds to avoid a transfer market block in 2026. Therefore, even though the player is not keen on Sunderland, and their offer is low, the club is seriously considering selling one of its most valuable assets. Newcastle, Aston Villa, and Napoli are also mentioned as interested parties monitoring the situation.