Matteo Guendouzi will finally leave Arsenal after a window of uncertainty, with Hertha Berlin set to take him on loan.
The 21-year-old fell out with Mikel Arteta at the start of the Spaniard’s tenure as manager, and failed to return to the team after clashing with Neil Maupe in the 2-1 defeat at Brighton last season.
Since then, he has been bought around Europe but without success. While there were reports that he was offered to the likes of Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain, a move to an elite club never materialised.
The moment that sealed Gandozzi’s fate / Richard Heathcote / Getty Images
And now the Daily Mirror report that Bundesliga side Hertha will take him on loan after moves to Marseille, Roma and Villarreal (managed by former boss Unai Emery).
Guendouzi joined Arsenal from Ligue 2 side Lorient in 2018 for an initial £7m, but quickly established himself as a key figure in their midfield. He received a call-up to France’s senior side in September 2019, but is yet to make his debut for Les Bleus.
He has not featured for the Gunners since the incident at Brighton in June, and has not received an FA Cup winners’ medal since the victory in August.
Torreira is also set to depart /Pool/Getty Images
Meanwhile, Lucas Torreira is also expected to lead Guandozzi out the door as the trip to Atletico Madrid looms, and Sead Kolasinac is closing in on a return to Germany with Bayer Leverkusen.
Arsenal’s failure to move their deadwood in the first window means they have failed to secure many of their key transfer targets in this window. Negotiations with Lyon over Houssem Aouar have stalled, and no progress has been made over Atletico’s Thomas Partey. Reports suggest they will instead try to do a deal for Chelsea’s Jorginho.