KEY Arsenal target is perfect for Thomas Tuchel's Bayern
Cameron Smith
- 24 Oct 2023 16:30 BST
- 5 min read
Douglas Luiz remains on Arsenal’s radar after the Gunners failed in their pursuit of the Brazilian last summer.
The Aston Villa star was heavily linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium in 2022, but Mikel Arteta’s side were unable to agree a deal and the proposed transfer didn’t materialise.
However, the 25-year-old is still on Arsenal’s transfer wish-list and his form for Unai Emery’s Aston Villa has attracted interest from across Europe.
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In fact, Fabrizio Romano recently told his YouTube channel: “What I can tell is that there are still many top clubs monitoring Douglas Luiz. First of all, I wanted to mention the great job of Aston Villa: they extended his contract recently, he has an important salary now and is an important player for Unai Emery.
“But it's also important to say for Douglas Luiz that many clubs are keeping an eye on the situation. Arsenal wanted Douglas Luiz one year and a half ago.
“He's always been a player appreciated by Arsenal director Edu. Let's see what's going to happen in January, if Arsenal will decide to move in that position or not - this is not decided yet.
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“But for sure, Douglas Luiz remains a player appreciated by many clubs around Europe, not just Arsenal, but we know the style of the Gunners, they like to keep an eye on the players they have already been following in the past, so for sure Douglas Luiz is going to be one to watch in 2024.”
Arsenal’s current midfield roster includes both Thomas Partey and Jorginho, and reports suggest those two could be on their way out in 2024 if suitable replacements can be found.
As a result, links with Luiz come as little surprise given his recent string of performances for Villa.
His goal-scoring exploits have seen him net in six consecutive home matches (five goals in league games in total this season), and his all-round game has matured immensely under Emery.
He is now one of the best midfielders in the Premier League and his partnership with Boubacar Kamara is excellent. However, while Arsenal are evidently keen on signing the Brazilian, Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich should be all over Douglas Luiz next year.
Why Bayern should sign Douglas Luiz
This summer, Thomas Tuchel repeatedly stated his desire for Bayern to sign a new defensive midfielder. Despite the arrival of Konrad Laimer from RB Leipzig, the former Chelsea manager was adamant he needed another body in midfield.
Leon Goretkza hasn’t shown his best form over the past year and Joshua Kimmich is best when partnered with a more defensive presence to allow him to advance forward and display his varied passing range.
They tried and failed to sign both Joao Palhinha and Scott McTominay during the most recent transfer window, with the former even travelling to Munich on Deadline Day before Fulham pulled the plug.
Palhinha has now signed a new contract at Fulham and will be even harder to prise away from west London.
Therefore, Luiz represents the perfect potential signing. He has proven his worth for an Aston Villa side who look capable of challenging for Champions league football this season and he could force his way back into the Brazil squad if he continues his current trajectory.
Furthermore, FootballTransfers’ data analytics partner SciSports believe that Bayern is Luiz’s best transfer option too.
Tuchel’s desire for a new midfielder means that a transfer isn’t implausible and SciSports’ ‘Career Advice’ tool - which uses a multitude of factors including potential development and playing time - rates Bayern as Luiz’s best option if he leaves Villa Park.
SciSports' best transfer options for Douglas Luiz
| Club | Club Fit Score |
|---|---|
| 1. Bayern | 89 |
| 2. Newcastle | 80 |
| 3. Man Utd | 78 |
| 4. Man City | 78 |
| 5. Barcelona | 77 |
| 6. Arsenal | 77 |
A move to Newcastle, to free up Bruno Guimareas into a more advanced role, is Luiz’s second best option, as per SciSports, while Manchester United, Manchester City and Barcelona complete the top five.
Arsenal are sixth on the list, so a move to Mikel Arteta’s side would certainly be a good one for Luiz, although Bayern are in far more desperate need of his profile as they look to win the Bundesliga once again and go deep in the Champions League.
The calibre of clubs at the top of Luiz’s best transfer options shows the talent he possesses and Bayern could do a lot worse than spend a decent chunk of money on the Brazilian midfielder.
