Sunderland Manager Le Bris Eyes Reunion with Lazio’s Matteo Guendouzi

Key Takeaways:

• Lazio’s Matteo Guendouzi has emerged as a top target for Premier League newcomers Sunderland
• Guendouzi has struggled for form at Lazio, losing his starting spot and place in the French national team during the first half of the season
• Lazio would consider bids in the region of 30 million euros, but a January transfer remains unlikely due to squad restructuring concerns

Transfer Interest Grows for Guendouzi

Premier League newcomers Sunderland are actively pursuing the signature of Lazio midfielder Matteo Guendouzi. Régis Le Bris, Sunderland’s coach, is keen to reunite with Guendouzi following their previous collaboration at Lorient, where the French midfielder developed a strong working relationship with Le Bris.

Stalled Progress at Lazio

Guendouzi, once a mainstay in the Lazio starting eleven, has endured a difficult first half of the season in Serie A. As a result of his dip in form, he not only lost his regular place in the club’s line-up but also fell out of favour with the French national team. With the midfielder no longer regarded as indispensable, Lazio are open to potential offers that reach close to 30 million euros.

🚨🔴⚪️ Sunderland manager Le Bris doesn’t close doors to Mattéo Guendouzi as January signing: “We still have connections with players and Matteo is one of those players. I worked with him previously in Lorient so we stay connected”. pic.twitter.com/OwMBSj1l31

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) November 20, 2025

Despite this, officials at Lazio acknowledge that a transfer during the January window is improbable. Offloading an influential midfielder mid-season would necessitate an extensive reshaping of the squad, and the winter market notoriously complicates such significant moves.

Guendouzi’s Priorities Amid World Cup Ambitions

As the 2026 World Cup approaches, Guendouzi is believed to prioritise consistent playing time. The player would only contemplate a transfer if promises of a central role were made – a condition Sunderland are prepared to fulfil. Le Bris, when questioned about the ongoing situation, confirmed continued contact between the two parties and offered insight into Sunderland’s position in comments shared by TuttoMercatoWeb.

“It is too early to talk about the next transfer window. We are still maintaining contact with some players—Matteo is one of them, because I worked with him at Lorient,” he admitted. “We are still in touch, but at the moment nothing is happening. It’s too early. We have a strong midfield line and we’ll see,” he added with a smile, leaving the door open for a future reunion.

Current Situation: Transfer Details