Arsenal Faces £50m Price Tag in Pursuit of Premier League Midfielder

Reports indicate that Arsenal has been informed they’ll need to fork out £50m to secure the services of Aston Villa’s sought-after midfielder, Douglas Luiz.

The Gunners have been eyeing the Brazilian international for some time, having made a bid for him back in the summer of 2022, albeit unsuccessful.

Under the guidance of Unai Emery, Luiz, 26, has become a linchpin in Villa’s midfield, delivering standout performances in the 2023-24 season, tallying 10 goals and 10 assists across various competitions. His impressive passing accuracy of 89% in the Premier League, coupled with solid defensive stats, underscores his value.

Aston Villa’s willingness to offload Luiz for £50m stems from their need to adhere to the Premier League’s Financial Fair Play regulations.

Despite their Champions League qualification boosting finances, Villa must balance signings with player sales by the June 30 deadline to avoid penalties.

While Arsenal is keen on Luiz, they’re not alone in their pursuit. Juventus has reportedly expressed interest, offering Weston McKennie and £25m in a potential deal. AC Milan is also monitoring Luiz’s situation, though no formal bid has been made yet.

Meanwhile, Villa is engaged in transfer talks, including a potential permanent deal for Ross Barkley from Luton Town and inquiries about Conor Gallagher from Chelsea.

With Arsenal gearing up for summer departures, including Emile Smith Rowe, Eddie Nketiah, and Oleksandr Zinchenko, their priority remains to secure a new center-forward to strengthen their attacking options after a lackluster goal-scoring season from Gabriel Jesus and Nketiah.