Arsenal have faced rejection for the player in prior bid attempts.
Reports suggest that despite Douglas Luiz’s less-than-stellar performance in Arsenal’s recent defeat to Unai Emery’s team, the Gunners are poised to revive their interest in the Aston Villa midfielder. Previous attempts by Arsenal to secure Luiz’s services were met with rejection, but Football Insider indicates that this setback hasn’t deterred them from considering another bid to lure him away from Villa Park.
With plans to part ways with Mohammed Elneny, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta seems inclined to make room for a significant signing, potentially to complement the recent acquisition of Declan Rice for £100 million. The uncertain futures of midfielders Jorginho and Thomas Partey further fuel speculation about Luiz’s potential move to Arsenal. However, competition for Luiz’s signature is fierce, with Barcelona also reportedly expressing interest in the Brazilian international.
Should Arteta pursue Luiz, it’s anticipated that the transfer fee could rival that of Declan Rice, an amount beyond Barcelona’s current financial capacity. Aston Villa values Luiz significantly higher than previous offers, with bids rumored to have peaked at £25 million in January 2023.
Luiz’s impact on Aston Villa’s campaign has been profound, with impressive contributions of ten goals and ten assists across 46 appearances this season. Despite reported interest from Arsenal, Luiz committed to a new contract with Villa until 2026 in 2022.
Beginning his career at Vasco da Gama before a stint at Manchester City and subsequent loan to Girona due to work permit issues, Luiz eventually found his way to Villa Park in 2019. His pivotal role in Villa’s Champions League pursuit has garnered praise from pundits like Clinton Morrison, who lauds him as one of the Premier League’s standout performers.