Aston Villa & Newcastle Target Wants Pay Rise to Stay at Lazio | OneFootball

Lazio midfielder Matteo Guendouzi has no desire to quit the Italian capital side, but a salary adjustment is considered necessary.

The Background

The 26-year-old is a Paris Saint-Germain youth product who also had experiences at Lorient, Arsenal, Hertha Berlin and Olympique Marseille, before joining the Biancocelesti in the summer of 2023.

Guendouzi Has Become a Crucial Player for Lazio

While his first season in Serie A was decent if not spectacular, the Frenchman has now established himself as an absolute protagonist in Marco Baroni’s tactical system. He has thus far made 47 appearances in all competitions this term, scoring one goal and providing five assists in the process.

Interest from Newcastle & Aston Villa

Guendouzi’s dynamic showings in the middle of the park have piqued the interest of several Premier League suitors, above all Newcastle United and Aston Villa. Following Sunday’s 2-2 draw against Inter Milan, the midfielder said he’s happy at Lazio, but ‘let’s see what happens’.

Matteo Guendouzi Demands Improved Salary

According to Il Corriere dello Sport, the player was referencing incoming negotiations with the Lazio hierarchy. As the Roman newspaper explains, extending his contract beyond the current deadline (June 2028) isn’t a priority for Guendouzi who is only seeking a pay rise.

The Figures

The France international feels that his current salary of €1.3 million per season doesn’t do him justice, especially considering his status as an automatic starter. This figure certainly pales in comparison to what the player’s Premier League suitors would be willing to offer.

Alessio Romagnoli & the Domino Effect

The source notes that Alessio Romagnoli, who went public by revealing that Lazio didn’t keep their promise regarding a salary increase, may have created a domino effect. So it remains to be seen how Claudio Lotito and Angelo Fabiani will negotiate their way out of this contract storm.