Aston Villa boss Unai Emery targets £30m reunion as Man Utd 'set their sights' on key Wolves star

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery is hoping to sign former Arsenal star Mateo Guendouzi this summer. The eight-time French international worked with Emery at Arsenal and was brought to the Emirates for a fee of £7m just weeks after the Spainard’s arrival at the club.

The 25-year-old was a near ever-present for the Gunners during Emery’s time at the club, but due performances and disciplinary issues fell down the pecking order following the arrival of Mikel Arteta.

Guendouzi was loaned out to Hertha Berlin and Marseille before eventually settling with the latter. He initially featured regularly for two years as the French club secured a second and third place finish in the league, but he opted to spend this season on loan at Lazio in a deal which includes an obligation to become permanent for around £18m.

However, Sports Witness reports that Guendouzi is keen to leave Lazio in a deal which ‘can unlock the market’ for the Serie A side. Guendouzi is understood to be unsettled following the club’s seventh place finish and is interested in working with Emery. However, Corriere dello Sport understands that Lazio will want a fee of at least £30m for the Frenchman to leave.

Man Utd join the race to sign key Wolves star

Premier League heavyweights Manchester United are hoping to bolster their defensive options with a move for Wolves skipper Max Kilman, according to reports from Molineux News. Kilman is regarded as one of the team’s most important players and he has missed just one Premier League match in the last two seasons.

He was notably one of only two Premier League outfield players alongside William Saliba to play in every single minute throughout the 2023/24 campaign.

The 27-year-old’s consistency has lead to rumours of a move to West Ham, though Ranks FC transfer expert Dean Jones claims he could ‘very quickly’ become a target for Manchester United.

Manchester United are currently in the middle of a defensive rebuild following the departures of Jonny Evans and Raphael Varane and it is suspected that Kilman could be an alternative to the highly-priced Jarrad Brantwaite of Everton.

Jones said: “If they [Man Utd] can’t sign Jarrad Branthwaite they will move on from it very quickly I believe. The two other defensive targets in the Premier League they would look at are Marc Guehi at Crystal Palace and Max Kilman at Wolves, the same price point £50-60m.”

Kilman signed a contract extension with Wolves in August and is under contract until 2028 meaning Gary O’Neil will be in no rush to sell the player this summer.