Arteta in dreamland as Arsenal receive brilliant Douglas Luiz update

Tom Weber

• Updated: 2 Mar 2024 12:50 GMT
• 4 min read

Aston Villa are braced for a summer exodus of key players amid Financial Fair Play concerns, according to a report.

Unai Emery has turned Aston Villa into credible contenders for a spot in next season's Champions League. The Basque coach was provided significant financial resources last summer to strengthen his team, breaking the club's transfer record to land Bayer Leverkusen star Moussa Diaby for €55 million.

A transfer outlay of €106.5 million in the 2023/24 season and new, big-money contracts for the likes of Ezri Konsa, Tyrone Mings and Ollie Watkins have seen Villa come under a bit of scrutiny regarding the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability Rules, according to the Daily Mail.

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As a result, the Birmingham side are said to be 'braced' for a big summer window that could see key players depart in a bid to raise funds for further acquisitions. Academy product Jacob Ramsay, a Newcastle United target in January, could be sold to generate 'pure profit,' while midfielder Douglas Luiz is being heavily courted by the Premier League's elite.

Arsenal on alert

The news that Luiz could be sold will be music to Arsenal's ears. The Gunners are long-term admirers of the Brazilian and previously tried and failed to sign him, with the midfielder eventually extending his Villa contract.

2024 could be different, however. Luiz, a central midfielder by trade, is enjoying a spectacular campaign and his best goalscoring season to date, which has again put him on the radar of Europe's elite. The 25-year-old has notched 10 goals and seven assists in all competitions this term, and this has, of course, piqued Arsenal's interest.

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Mikel Arteta is said to be keen on adding another midfielder in the summer despite the record-breaking spending on Declan Rice and Kai Havertz last year. FootballTransfers has frequently reported on the Gunners' courtship of Luiz, but Arsenal were priced out of a January move.

In the winter window, Villa demanded a whopping €128 million for Luiz's services, but the news of their Financial Fair Play problems could see them soften their stance in the summer. Arsenal will be keenly watching how this situation develops.