Arsenal are preparing another bid for Aston Villa midfielder Douglas Luiz during the winter transfer window.
The Gunners attempted to sign the Brazilian in the later stages of the transfer window, with the club thought to have had at least two proposals rejected, with their latest bid said to be about £25m.
Villa are reported to have made it clear that they would not sell for less than £30m, a price that the North London club was not willing to accept.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta stated late in the window that the injuries to Thomas Partey and Mohamed Elneny prompted a late hunt for a new centre midfielder.
“We had a lot of things still to do in the squad. The club has done a phenomenal job of bringing in players that we wanted,” Arteta told reporters.
“Unfortunately, in the last 72 hours, Thomas [Partey] and Mohamed [Elneny] got injured, and we had to react in the market. We tried, and at the end of the day, we have to bring in the players we feel are right, but we didn’t manage to do it.”
However, Luiz’s contract at Villa Park is set to end next June, leaving his future uncertain.
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Arsenal are aiming to rekindle their interest in him during the January transfer window, when he may be available for a lesser sum, according to Football Insider.
If Villa is unable to sign him to a new contract, the South American will be allowed to negotiate a pre-contract with a foreign club at the start of 2023.
Atletico Madrid and Juventus are among the international clubs thought to be interested in the midfielder, who has scored twice in six games for Gerrard’s side this season, but he is reportedly keen on joining Arsenal.
Douglas Luiz joined Villa Park from Manchester City in July 2019 and has made 117 appearances for the club in all competitions, scoring seven goals and providing eight assists.
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