Arsenal set to rekindle interest in Aston Villa midfielder Douglas Luiz

Aston Villa midfielder Douglas Luiz’s links to Arsenal have started to re-emerge ahead of the summer transfer window.

Arsenal have been long-term admirers of the Aston Villa star after previously being heavily linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium two years ago. The Gunners submitted as many as three offers for the central midfielder, but Aston Villa eventually knocked back all of their proposals as they wanted to keep him at the club.

Douglas Luiz, 25, has enjoyed an excellent season with the Villans, starting 26 of 27 Premier League games, registering an eye-catching nine goals and five assists from the middle of the park. The Brazilian has also bagged two goals in six UEFA Europa Conference League games, proving his importance to Unai Emery’s side.

Considering how he has developed under Emery in the last 15 months, Arsenal are reportedly preparing to rekindle their interest in Douglas Luiz in the summer.

Arsenal keen on strengthening midfield unit

The way Arsenal have been playing in the Premier League since the turn of the year, one would forgive any player for wanting to join their squad next term. In their last five Premier League games, Mikel Arteta’s side have smashed Liverpool, West Ham, Burnley, Newcastle United and Sheffield United by an aggregate scoreline of 24-2.

The win at Sheffield United on Monday moved the Gunners to within two points of league leaders Liverpool and have put themselves in a great position, with the Reds hosting second-place Manchester City at Anfield on Sunday. Although fully focused on the title race, Mikel Arteta and the club’s top brass must already have one eye on their transfer business this summer.

Amid speculation, Mikel Arteta remains keen on bolstering his options in midfield ahead of the 2024/25 campaign. The futures of Thomas Partey and Mohamed Elneny at the Emirates Stadium remain uncertain, with the club planning to offload the latter due to his recurring injury problems. Elneny is likely to leave when his deal expires in June, while Jorginho is also out of contract at the end of the campaign.

Nonetheless, with at least a couple of central midfielders expected to leave, Arsenal could plan to move for Douglas Luiz. The Brazilian would be a fantastic fit in Arteta’s setup at the Emirates Stadium whilst improving the quality depth of the squad. He’d improve the productivity of the Gunners’ midfield by adding goals and assists.

At 25, Luiz has already made a name for himself in the Premier League, and with the majority of his career—including the prime years—still ahead of him, Luiz would arguably be a top acquisition for the Gunners. However, the north London club must pay a premium for the midfielder, who is under contract at Villa Park until 2026.