Arsenal have accepted a cut-price deal for midfielder Mateo Guendouzi after his loan deal was confirmed this afternoon.
Guendouzi is heading back to France to join Olympique Marseille on a season-long loan, it was confirmed today, with the Ligue 1 side also having an obligatory clause to buy the midfielder at the end of next season.
The 22-year-old looked as though he would make it at Arsenal until a bad tackle at Brighton started a fallout between he and Mikel Arteta, leading to claims of a bad attitude.
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He soon found himself sent on loan to Hertha Berlin, where he spent the entirety of last season, helping the Bundesliga side avoid relegation.
But those who thought Guendouzi might get a second chance after him time away are mistake, because he has been swiftly moved on ahead of pre-season.
It was confirmed today that he has joined on the season-long loan with that obligatory purchase clause, and Get French Football News report the Ligue 1 side will pay €1million (£850,000) to loan the player, with an €11m (£9.4m) fee due to make the move permanent next summer.
That takes the total to £10.25million, which is £7.75million short of the player’s valuation on Transfermarkt.
Nevertheless, given Arteta did not want Guendouzi around ahead of next season, the money will still be a welcome boost as Arsenal look to strengthen this summer.