Transfer Centre

Arsenal 'not planning to revive Douglas Luiz pursuit'

By Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter | 06 September 2022

Arsenal are not planning to reignite their interest in Aston Villa midfielder Douglas Luiz following three failed deadline-day bids, according to a report.

Arsenal are not considering another move for Aston Villa midfielder Douglas Luiz, according to a report.

Following serious thigh injuries to Mohamed Elneny and Thomas Partey, Mikel Arteta was left with Albert Sambi Lokonga and Granit Xhaka as his only two senior midfield options.

The Gunners had gone the entire summer without adding to their midfield ranks, with a proposed swoop for Leicester City's Youri Tielemans failing to materialise.

The news of Partey and Elneny's layoffs saw Arsenal chiefs scramble to try to sign a new midfielder on deadline day, and Villa's Luiz emerged as the prime candidate.

The former Manchester City man only has a year left to run on his contract at Villa Park, but Steven Gerrard's side were determined to keep hold of him for the coming months.

Aston Villa midfielder Douglas Luiz in action in November 21. © Reuters

Arsenal are believed to have approached the Lions with three separate bids worth £20m, £23m and £25m for Luiz, but the Gunners were pushed back each time by their Premier League rivals.

Villa are now running the risk of losing the 24-year-old on a free transfer next summer, and he will be able to hold talks with foreign clubs from January unless a new contract is agreed.

However, TEAMtalk claims that Arsenal are no longer interested in signing Luiz having identified one of his compatriots in Palmeiras' Danilo as their new priority target.

A move for the 21-year-old on deadline day was also mooted, and the report adds that Palmeiras may be prepared to accept a less-than-significant figure for his sale in January.

Danilo only signed a new contract with the Brasileiro side until the summer of 2026 back in February, and that deal is reported to possess an £85.5m release clause, but Arsenal could try to land him for a lower fee next year.

Palmeiras' Danilo celebrates winning the Copa Libertadores on November 27, 2021 © Reuters

The midfielder arrived at Palmeiras' youth academy in 2019 and has since racked up 129 appearances for the club at senior level, scoring 12 goals and setting up nine more in all tournaments.

Danilo has seven goals and three assists to boast from 44 appearances in the 2022 season, and he has won the Copa Libertadores twice with Palmeiras, in addition to the Recopa Sudamericana and one Copa do Brasil.

Meanwhile, Luiz scored his first goal of the Premier League season against Arsenal 24 hours before being embroiled in the deadline-day transfer saga, with his corner finding its way into the back of the net in a 2-1 Emirates defeat.

The Brazil international has recorded seven goals and eight assists from 117 outings for the Lions and was also linked with Liverpool before the Reds swooped for his compatriot Arthur on loan.

Sambi Lokonga and Xhaka are set to pair up for Arsenal when they return to action on Thursday against FC Zurich in Europa League Group A, but 21-year-old Matt Smith is another option for Arteta.