Barcelona sporting director Deco will reportedly prioiritise a summer move for Aston Villa mainstay Douglas Luiz, a target for Arsenal.
According to a report by Spanish outlet SPORT, Douglas Luiz is the subject of interest from Barcelona. Sporting director Deco views the Aston Villa mainstay as a priority target for the 2024 summer transfer window. Meanwhile, the Brazilian international is also a target for Arsenal.
The Rise of Douglas Luiz
Douglas Luiz has established himself as one of the best midfielders in the Premier League since joining Aston Villa from Manchester City in July 2019. The 25-year-old has been a mainstay in the middle of the park for the Midlands outfit, with his market value skyrocketing from €10 million to €60 million in the last four years.
Meanwhile, the Brazilian midfielder has established a foothold on the international stage, becoming a regular for the Selecao. Luiz is enjoying an excellent 2023/24 season, amassing six goals and five assists in 27 appearances across all competitions. Meanwhile, the player’s progress has not gone unnoticed, capturing the attention of high-profile clubs across Europe.
The former Manchester City midfielder is a long-term target for Arsenal, with the Gunners previously trying to secure his services. Other Premier League bigwigs are also keen on signing Luiz. The Aston Villa mainstay is now attracting interest from Barcelona, with Barcelona eager to land him.
Barcelona, Arsenal Vying for Douglas Luiz
The report claims that Barcelona’s sporting director Deco will prioritise a summer move for him. The interest from the Blaugrana is understandable, with summer signings Oriol Romeu and Ilkay Gundogan only being short-term solutions. The reigning La Liga champions have thus set their sights on many midfielders, including Aleix Garcia, with Douglas Luiz also a viable target.
As for Arsenal, the Gunners remain keen on signing the 25-year-old Brazilian international. But they will unlikely launch the offensive to secure his services before the summer transfer window. Arsenal will look to replace the perennially-injured Thomas Partey with Luiz next year.
But Barcelona’s entry into the equation might spoil Arsenal’s move, although his high price tag can be a deal-breaker for the Blaugrana. Luiz will cost much more than his market value of €60 million. So, it will be interesting to see if a move to Barcelona materialises.
