Reports from Corriere dello Sport and Il Messaggero earlier on Wednesday suggested Sunderland were in a strong position to land Lazio midfielder Matteo Guendouzi, with optimism that the Premier League newcomers could match the Italian side’s valuation. However, the deal appears far more complicated than first believed.

La Repubblica reporter Enrico de Lellis, speaking to CalcioBlog, offered a very different picture of the situation. He stressed that although Sunderland have formally submitted a proposal, Guendouzi himself has shown no interest in accepting it.

“Guendouzi has an offer from Sunderland, but the player doesn’t want to go there,” de Lellis said.

Adding another twist, the journalist confirmed Napoli are also monitoring the Frenchman, with Antonio Conte said to be a strong admirer of the former Arsenal midfielder. Lazio, dealing with financial pressures, are open to a sale, but the player’s preference could steer the move elsewhere.

Napoli’s involvement is significant. They are competing in the Champions League and pushing for another Serie A title, making them an attractive option for a player who wants to play at the highest level. Guendouzi, who has been out of Didier Deschamps’ France squad for several months, is determined to regain national-team relevance ahead of the next World Cup, and his next club will be crucial in that pursuit.

Sunderland’s project under Regis Le Bris is seen as promising, yet the lack of European football and the need to impress on the elite stage could make the Wearside club a difficult sell. At 26, Guendouzi is entering the prime years of his career and is expected to be cautious about choosing his next destination.