Hertha Berlin unlikely to sign Matteo Guendouzi from Arsenal permanently in the summer

Hertha Berlin are set to see Matteo Guendouzi return to Arsenal in the summer with the club struggling to stump up the cash to sign him permanently.

The Frenchman has impressed since joining the Bundesliga side and quickly became a mainstay in their midfield as they went on to lose just two of their last nine matches in the relegation battle. 

However, Hertha are looking at other options for the summer with his asking price out of their budget, according to Bild.

Matteo Guendouzi has impressed during his loan spell in the Bundesliga with Hertha Berlin 

The French midfielder is set to return to Arsenal in the summer from Hertha Berlin

It is believed that Hertha Berlin would have to pay £29million for Guendouzi and are unwilling to meet that asking price.

Also, there was no option-to-buy clause in his season-long loan deal from the Gunners that would have made it easier for the Bundesliga side to keep hold of the 21-year-old. 

Berlin head coach Bruno Labbadia has praised the midfielder’s impact on the team, saying last month: ‘[Matteo] is very, very valuable to us. We are happy that we were able to sign him.

‘He’s a very, very good footballer, who has a good sense of space and is technically very strong.

Hertha Berlin are reportedly unwilling to meet the £29million valuation for the midfielder

‘Even though he’s young, he gives instructions. He is not at all interested in whether he speaks the language.’

But now Arteta is set for a reunion with Guendouzi after their fallout last season that caused the loan to be made.

Elsewhere, Genoa CEO Alessandro Zarbano has confirmed interest in Arsenal’s Sokratis. 

Fenerbahce also want the 32-year-old, but Zarbano said: ‘Sokratis is an option, we still don’t know if he’ll arrive in the next few days.’  

Genoa CEO Alessandro Zarbano has confirmed interest in Arsenal centre back Sokratis