West Ham plotting Guendouzi move

West Ham are reportedly considering a late move for Marseille midfielder Matteo Guendouzi this month and the Frenchman could prove to be David Moyes‘ own Luka Modric at the London Stadium.

What’s the word?

According to journalist Mathieu Grégoire on the L’Equipe channel (via Get Football News France) the Hammers have joined Aston Villa in the race to sign the 23-year-old before next week’s transfer deadline.

The former Arsenal man has impressed since leaving the Gunners on a permanent deal in the summer, having spent the previous campaigns on loan with Marseille and Hertha Berlin.

He has made 81 appearances in total for Les Phocéens, contributing nine goals and 18 assists, which has helped him reclaim a spot in Didier Deschamps’ France squad, featuring for the runners-up in Qatar late last year.

This season has seen Guendouzi make 18 appearances in Ligue 1, in which he has contributed one goal and three assists, averaging a solid 6.75 rating from WhoScored for his performances, which is only bettered by three players in Moyes’ squad.

The young midfielder, who earns £41k-per-week at the Stade Velodrome, may have struggled in the Premier League in the past but he looks to have matured since his Arsenal exit and could live up to his obvious potential should he return to London with the Hammers.

Moyes’ own Modric?

According to FBref, the third-most similar player to Guendouzi when compared to other midfielders across Europe’s top leagues is Real Madrid and Croatia star, Luka Modric.

This season has seen the two maestros register similar numbers with regard to shots on target per 90 (0.28 vs 0.27), progressive passes (66 vs 63) and pass completion rate (86.6% vs 87.6%), suggesting they are metronomic midfielders capable of having an impact in the final third.

WhoScored also suggests that both Modric and Guendouzi excel at passing, while they both don’t dive into tackles, so they are clearly both composed heads in the middle of the park, who are capable of dictating a game.

He showed that on occasions during his spell with the Gunners, with football talent scout Jacek Kulig describing him as a “monster in the making” after an impressive display in the north London derby.

Considering that Modric has long been regarded as one of the best midfielders in the world, winning five Champions League titles and the Ballon d’Or during his time at the Santiago Bernabeu, Moyes would surely be foolish to turn a similar player down given the Hammers’ struggles so far this campaign.

Therefore, Moyes should definitely look at bringing Guendouzi to the London Stadium before the transfer window slams shut next week.