Arsenal are set to spark a north London derby in the transfer window with Mikel Arteta hijacking Tottenham Hotspur’s interest in a deal to sign Douglas Luiz from Aston Villa.
That is according to The Sun, which reports that Arsenal and Tottenham are set for a tug-of-war over Luiz. The Gunners and Spurs both have the 25-year-old on their radars with Arteta and Ange Postecoglou eager to strengthen their engine rooms ahead of the new campaign.
Arteta has long held a real appreciation for what Luiz can offer at Emirates Stadium. But the Spaniard failed with multiple efforts to sign the Brazilian in 2022. Now, the Aston Villa ace is earning admiration from across north London with Tottenham lining up a move of their own.
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Tottenham want the transfer of long-time Arsenal target Douglas Luiz
Tottenham view Luiz as the ideal replacement for Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg with the Danish star potentially on the way out. Spurs are considering selling their former Southampton ace with Atletico Madrid and Bayern Munich interested. Postecoglou does not feel he is a natural fit.
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Hojbjerg not suiting what Postecoglou plans to build at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium has convinced Spurs to establish plans to potentially target Luiz’s transfer from Aston Villa. They will only move if the 27-year-old leaves three seasons after joining for £15m, rising to £20m.
But Arteta will not let Tottenham have a free run at his long-time target. So, Arsenal will eye another move to secure Luiz’s transfer from Aston Villa. Yet the Gunners face a challenge as the Villans got the Rio de Janeiro native to sign a new contract to June 2026 last October.
Aston Villa fended off three bids from Mikel Arteta through 2022
Aston Villa sought to lock Luiz’s future down in Birmingham after fending off three bids from Arsenal for his transfer. ESPN reported in September that the Villans snubbed a £25m bid on deadline day. The offer followed Arteta’s failed attempts at securing £20m then £23m deals.
Gunners sporting director Edu tabled the north London giant’s final offer of the window with just over an hour remaining. But it was far from enough – and will now be even further from enough – to convince the Villans to go against their adamant intentions to keep the Brazilian.
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Luiz, who only cost Aston Villa £15m to sign from Manchester City in July 2019, would go on to be a pivotal player under former Arsenal manager Unai Emery, as well. He was vital under the Spaniard following his arrival in November as the Villans secured their return to Europe.
The nine-cap Selecao star started in 33 of his 37 appearances through the 2022/23 Premier League season. He also offered six goals and six assists, with five of each coming in his 25 outings under Emery. Steven Gerrard left the midfielder on his bench in Villa’s second game.
Emery’s tenure brought the best out of a player Philippe Coutinho already considered to be ‘excellent’ before Arteta first bid. Now, Luiz’s incredible form has Arsenal eying a derby with Tottenham for his transfer from Aston Villa. The 22/23 term was by far his best for Villa yet.