Olympique de Marseille didn’t receive any official bids for Matteo Guendouzi during the January transfer window, according to their club president.

Despite plenty of speculation in the January transfer window, Matteo Guendouzi remained with Marseille instead of completing a rumoured move to Aston Villa.

According to Marseille president Pablo Longoria (via GFFN), Aston Villa didn’t place an official bid for the midfielder, nor West Ham United – who were also linked with a move.

Reports in January suggested Guendouzi had declined a move back to the Premier League out of attachment to Marseille. But it seems there were never any formal offers for him to begin with.

This is all relevant to Arsenal because Guendouzi has a sell-on clause. His permanent transfer to Marseille cost a modest €10-11m fee, but the Gunners will add to that if and when he’s sold on.

After a second-place league finish last season, Marseille fans will likely feel underwhelmed at a lack of progress from their side this campaign.

They were eliminated at the group stage from the Champions League – failing to even drop into the Europa League – but they’re at least back up to second again in Ligue 1 after a strong recent run of form.

Then again, Aston Villa are firmly in mid-table, out of the cups, and with no imminent prospect of European football. It would have been a strange move for Guendouzi.