Arsenal have already signed Kai Havertz, Jurrien Timber and Declan Rice this summer but could be forced to re-enter the transfer market if Thomas Partey leaves the club
Arsenal have reignited interest in Douglas Luiz – almost a year after they failed to sign the Aston Villa midfielder.
Villa turned down two offers from the Gunners for 25-year-old Luiz last summer. The Brazil international had entered the final year of his contract and Mikel Arteta tried to tempt Arsenal’s Premier League rivals with a £23m offer on deadline day, but it was quickly rejected.
Villa, meanwhile, has persuaded Luiz to sign a new long-term deal because he ‘loves this club’. However, Arsenal are understood to still be interested in signing the former Manchester City star and are considering making a new offer this summer.
The Gunners are looking for a new central midfielder given the situation of Thomas Partey. Juventus and Saudi Arabian clubs are said to be interested in signing the 30-year-old Ghanaian international, leaving Arteta in midfield.
Although Arsenal have already signed Declan Rice to a £105m deal this summer, the former West Ham captain is a replacement for Granit Xhaka, not Partey. Xhaka, 30, has left the Emirates to join Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen.
Arteta is believed to want Partey to stay, but the Arsenal manager will be forced into the transfer market if he leaves. As reported by The Sun, the Gunners are keen to sign Luiz this summer but face competition from bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur.
Spurs have new management following the arrival of Ange Postecoglou from Celtic earlier this summer and are looking to assemble a squad capable of qualifying for Europe. They have already signed James Maddison, Guglielmo Vicar and Manor Solomon.
It is unclear how much Villa will ask for Luiz, but it will certainly be much more than £23m. He played in all but one of last season’s Premier League games and is a key member of Unai Emery’s squad, with a European campaign ahead.
Villa will take part in the Europa Conference League next season and have ambitions to stay in Europe for years to come. They see Arsenal as rivals for a top four spot after signing Youri Tielemans and Pau Torres in the summer.
On signing his new contract with Villa last October, Luiz said: “I love this club. I love the people here… This club opened the door for me when I came to England to play in the Premier League.” I’m so happy because I’m staying here and my choice is here.”
Arsenal have already spent more than £200m on Rice, Kai Havertz and Jurrien Timber this summer. All three players played in their 5-0 pre-season victory over Wayne Rooney’s MLS All-Stars in Washington on Wednesday night, with Havertz scoring.
Arsenal’s tour of the US continues on Saturday with a friendly against Manchester United in New Jersey. They then travel to California to face Barcelona before returning to England for their Emirates Cup match against Monaco on 2 August.
