Arsenal are planning to revive their interest in Aston Villa midfielder Douglas Luiz in the January transfer window.
The North London side had three bids rejected for the Aston Villa star during the summer transfer window, and the midfielder subsequently signed a new contract which tied him to Villa Park until 2026. Douglas Luiz, 25, has enjoyed a fine start to the 2023/24 season, registering five goals and two assists in 13 appearances to help Aston Villa climb up to fourth in the Premier League table. He has been a key component in Unai Emery’s side, starting all 13 league games so far.
Having established himself as one of the best midfielders in the Premier League in the last 18 months, the 25-year-old is unsurprisingly not short of suitors ahead of the winter transfer window. Arsenal are reportedly keen on bidding again for Luiz but could face competition from Liverpool, who are searching for a quality defensive midfielder. Former club Manchester City hold a genuine interest in the Brazilian as well.
Thomas Partey out, Douglas Luiz in for Arsenal?
Arsenal are ready to move on Thomas Partey off their books in January as they target new players to bolster their squad. The Ghana international was an integral part of the Gunners last term but has struggled with injury problems and will be out until the New Year with a hamstring issue. Moreover, the midfielder is due to join the Ghana national team for the Africa Cup of Nations, which runs from January 13 to February 11.
Mikel Arteta was open to parting ways with Partey in the summer but no suitable offer arrived amid interest from Saudi Arabian clubs. Arsenal’s finances have been stretched after splashing around £200million in the summer and must trim their squad before reinvesting in new players to avoid an FFP rules breach. Juventus are known to be admirers of Partey’s talents and could make a move for him in the winter window.
The Ghanaian midfielder’s potential departure could free up funds for Arteta and Arsenal to go big for Douglas Luiz. Given his form and importance to Emery’s side, there is very little chance Luiz will leave in January and it would take around £80million to persuade Villa into selling him. Whilst the Villans’ stance is that he is not for sale, Arsenal could still test their resolve with an audacious bid.
Luiz is a Premier League-proven commodity and could make an immediate impact at the Emirates Stadium. Arsenal sit at the summit of the Premier League and there is no reason why they cannot win the title this time around with the right acquisitions.
Signing a quality defensive midfielder in the New Year could take Arteta’s side to another level in terms of squad depth, which will be crucial if the club advances to the knockout rounds of the Champions League. In addition to providing defensive stability to the North London side, Luiz would be an instant upgrade on the ageing Jorginho.
The Brazilian midfielder is likely to be tempted to join a historic club like Arsenal, and it remains to be seen whether Luiz will try to force a move away from Villa Park if there is a concrete proposal on the table.
I am Rohan Sengupta from one of the busiest cities in India, Mumbai. A Journalism graduate with a keen interest in sports, football is something I simply cannot live without and writing, discussing and analyzing the game is what I do 24*7.
