Arsenal have reportedly explored bringing Brazilian midfielder Douglas Luiz from Aston Villa and have lodged a £20 million bid.
According to Sky Sports, Arsenal may have lodged a £20 million bid to tempt Aston Villa into selling Douglas Luiz. The Midlands club maintain the Brazilian midfielder is not for sale, but the player reportedly wants to depart from Villa Park, with one year left on his deal.
Arsenal have intensified their search for a central midfielder so late in the window as they ponder bringing Douglas Luiz from Aston Villa. Mikel Arteta has publicly suggested Arsenal may attempt to bring in a new midfielder before the transfer window shuts down.
Recent injuries to crucial players Thomas Partey and Mohamed Elneny have reduced Arteta’s options in midfield. With important fixtures in the league and Europe on the horizon, the Arsenal manager feels a new midfielder could be deemed necessary before the deadline.
Arsenal are ready to shelve their plans to sign a new winger until January to bring a new midfielder before the transfer window shuts down. There were links to Palmeiras’s Danilo, but the Brazilian out do not seem to be eager on a sale this summer, forcing the Gunners to shift their attention.
? Arsenal making offer for Aston Villa midfielder Douglas Luiz. #AVFC adamant 24yo Brazil int’l not for sale, but it’s understood he wants to leave & #AFC exploring if it’s possible before deadline. W/ @gunnerblog @greggevans40 @TheAthleticUK #DeadlineDay https://t.co/RlgWh2gWIp
— David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) September 1, 2022
Since this morning, links with Douglas Luiz have gained momentum, with the Aston Villa midfielder reportedly available in this window. The Brazilian international has one year left on his deal, and as per the latest reports, the 24-year-old remains keen on an exit.
Arsenal have reportedly tabled a £20 million bid to test Aston Villa’s resolve, but it seems the Villans are not interested in selling the midfielder. As the hours pass, Aston Villa could re-consider their stance and possibly look to cash in on the player who will likely leave on a free transfer next summer.
Alternatively, Aston Villa might be holding their stance to extract top value from Arsenal as they are already chasing Leander Dendoncker. The Belgian midfielder could be a like-for-like replacement for the Brazilian, indicating they are willing to entertain offers for the 24-year-old.
Arsenal are willing to push the boat and attempt to bring Luiz to the Emirates before the window closes. It remains to be seen what value Aston Villa will accept an offer at, which could be between £20-25 million in the current scenario.
