Arsenal are reportedly plotting an ambitious January swoop for Aston Villa midfielder Douglas Luiz.
The Gunners had three bids rejected for the Brazil international in September 2022—the final offer summing up around £25 million—and the central midfielder subsequently signed a new contract which ties him to Aston Villa until 2026. Yet, they remain interested in the player amid uncertainty surrounding Thomas Partey’s future at the Emirates Stadium.
According to ESPN, Arsenal could revive their interest in Douglas Luiz when the transfer window reopens in January but they must dramatically improve their offer to persuade Aston Villa into selling one of their valuable assets in the middle of the campaign.
Luiz, 25, has established himself as one of the best midfielders in the Premier League in the last 18 months. The Brazilian has been a key figure for Unai Emery’s side this season, starting all 13 Premier League games with the Villans climbing up to fourth in the table following Sunday’s 2-1 win at Tottenham.
Unsurprisingly, Emery would want to keep hold of the 25-year-old as Villa hopes of getting into the Champions League places next season.
Douglas Luiz to Arsenal—Excellent move in the offing?
Arsenal have limited funds available after spending more than £200m in the summer, so they must raise money for new signings by offloading a couple of players. One of those could be Thomas Partey, who has missed the majority of this campaign so far due to injury problems. He is sidelined until the New Year with a hamstring problem and is due to team up with the Ghana national team for the Africa Cup of Nations, which runs from January 13 to February 11.
The Gunners considered allowing the Ghana international to leave in the summer but a suitable offer didn’t arrive. They remain open to keeping Partey amid interest from Juventus but are wary that his departure would give the club funds to bid for Douglas Luiz.
With Partey injured and Kai Havertz failing to make the desired impact following his big-money move from Chelsea, there is certainly room for someone like Luiz to come in at the Emirates and have an impact. The 25-year-old could be the ideal pivot for Arsenal, allowing Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard to thrive as No.8s. Due to his age, energy and set-piece prowess, the Brazilian would be an instant upgrade on the ageing Jorginho.
The Gunners are searching for a quality central midfielder to potentially replace the injury-prone Partey, and Luiz would certainly improve them. The Brazil international is Premier League-proven and could represent a solid long-term investment for Arsenal. That being said, Mikel Arteta’s club must test Villa’s resolve to keep Luiz with a cheeky bid in the winter window.
