Arsenal want Aston Villa midfielder Douglas Luiz – and it seems like a clear pathway to the deal, now…
(Image credit: Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
Arsenal have been left with a clear route to sign Aston Villa midfielder Douglas Luiz.
The Brazilian scored against the Gunners last night in a 2-1 defeat, directly from a corner, only for news to filter through about a swift return to the Emirates Stadium. Mikel Arteta is reportedly interested in the player, given the injury problems that he has in the centre of the park.
But the move is complicated, given Aston Villa's refusal to undersell Luiz. Now, it seems like a breakthrough could clearer, though.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta wants Douglas Luiz as an option in defensive midfield (Image credit: Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Villa have had a £13 million bid accepted for Wolverhampton Wanderers utility man Leander Dendoncker, according to Sky Sports. With Boubacar Kamara the first-choice man to anchor Steven Gerrard's three-man midfield, it seems as if Dendoncker could well be the deputy.
Dendoncker is stylistically a little closer to Kamara, anyway. Both can play at centre-back, meaning that Gerrard could well switch between a back five and a back four in-game – or simply ask his No.6 to drop deeper to collect the ball in build-up.
Luiz, however is capable of operating as a No.8 and could well be tasked with doing so in Arsenal's system, should he join.
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Leander Dondoncker was at the Vitality Stadium last night as an unused substitute in Wolves' 0-0 draw with Bournemouth. (Image credit: Jack Thomas - WWFC/Wolves via Getty Images)
Luiz is said to be pushing for the move but Arsenal's first bid of around £20m was rejected by Villa.
It seems likely that this one could go down to the wire.
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Mark White has been at on FourFourTwo since joining in January 2020, first as a staff writer before becoming content editor in 2023. An encyclopedia of football shirts and boots knowledge – both past and present – Mark has also represented FFT at both FA Cup and League Cup finals (though didn't receive a winners' medal on either occasion) and has written pieces for the mag ranging on subjects from Bobby Robson's season at Barcelona to Robinho's career. He has written cover features for the mag on Mikel Arteta and Martin Odegaard, and is assisted by his cat, Rosie, who has interned for the brand since lockdown.
