Arsenal boost as fresh insight provided into Aston Villa’s Douglas Luiz stance

A fresh insight into the future of transfer-linked Aston Villa midfielder Douglas Luiz has been provided on Friday evening.

The name of Brazilian international Luiz has of course taken its place front and centre in the media headlines over the course of the week to date.

This comes amid widespread speculation that another of the Premier League’s clubs, in the form of Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal, are expressing a keen interest in landing the 23-year-old this month.

As rumoured first-choice midfield target Bruno Guimaraes inches towards a move to Newcastle United, the Gunners have been forced to look elsewhere, with Luiz one such player viewed as a viable alternative on the part of the brass in north London.

BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND – MAY 09: Paul Pogba of Manchester United is fouled by Douglas Luiz of Aston Villa to win a penalty during the Premier League match between Aston Villa and Manchester United at Villa Park in Birmingham, England  (Photo by Matthew Peters/Manchester United via Getty Images)

And, if the latest word emerging from the media late on Friday is anything to go by, then the hopes of Arteta and co. of striking a deal with their Aston Villa counterparts have been handed a boost.

This comes in the form of confirmation that the board at Villa Park are ready to ‘listen to offers’ for Luiz, ahead of next Monday’s transfer deadline.

This comes owing to a combination of the Brazilian’s contract situation (due to expire in 2023) and the club’s ongoing pursuit of Juventus star Rodrigo Bentancur.

In turn, though a transfer is viewed as unlikely as things stand, should Arsenal table an offer deemed as sufficient, Luiz could well find himself lining out in the capital for the remainder of the campaign.

#AVFC will listen to offers for Douglas Luiz if any arrive before Monday. #AFC like him, but they haven’t registered a formal offer yet.
Nothing from #NUFC yet either.

A closer look at his situation: https://t.co/NNQiGT6DFw

— Gregg Evans (@greggevans40) January 28, 2022

Auba to depart?

Whilst speculation continues to swirl surrounding exactly which players are likely to make their way to the Emirates before the winter window slams shut in 72 hours’ time, two more members of Mikel Arteta’s squad now appear to be inching closer to exits, too.

Arsenal have of course been hard at work in efforts to clear the deadwood from the club’s ranks across the month to date, with the likes of Sead Kolasinac, Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Calum Chambers having all been moved on in some capacity.

And such players look set to be joined imminently by Eddie Nketiah, who is inching ever closer to a move to newly-minted Newcastle.

Fellow hitman Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, meanwhile, could too yet seal a January exit, amid interest on the part of both Barcelona and Juventus.

🚨 EXCLUSIVE: Barcelona + Juventus make official approaches to sign Aubameyang on loan until summer. Unclear what Arsenal will do – talks ongoing with both. If #AFC grant exit, destination likely to be influenced by Morata @TheAthleticUK #FCBarcelona #Juve https://t.co/tXjBHGdLb3

— David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) January 28, 2022

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