Romano reveals star Arsenal 'really, really want' - but there's a problem
Tom Weber
- 17 Nov 2023 10:03 CST
- 3 min read
Fabrizio Romano has revealed that Arsenal are very keen indeed on Douglas Luiz, but striking a deal will be anything but easy.
The Brazilian midfielder is a long-standing target of the Gunners, with Mikel Arteta appreciating the player massively. So much so in fact, that the north London club previously attempted to snap him up only to be rebuffed.
Luiz ultimately penned a new deal at Aston Villa and it proved to be a good decision. Under former Arsenal boss Unai Emery, the Villans are experiencing a real revival. The high-flying Birmingham club currently occupy fifth in the Premier League table, just a point behind erstwhile table-toppers Tottenham and only three behind pace-setters Man City.
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This success and the fact that Luiz is such a key component in Emery's side makes any potential deal very tough, but the Gunners remain interested. As FootballTransfers revealed last week, the London giants are ready to bid for the 25-year-old again in January, and Arteta's appreciation has now been echoed by Fabrizio Romano.
What did Romano say?
Speaking on his YouTube channel, the transfer expert revealed: "Injuries are not helping Arsenal...the situation of Thomas Partey, with his injury, we know the idea of Arsenal is still to look at midfielders for the January transfer window."
"I can confirm that Arsenal really, really want and appreciate Douglas Luiz. It's a player they have [had] on the list for more than two years, they consider Douglas Luiz the perfect midfielder for their idea, for the intensity, for the quality he can bring, so many different factors make him top of the list for Arsenal."
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"The problem remains Aston Villa. Aston Villa have no intention to let him go in January, so it's going to be really difficult. It would take a really important proposal to tempt Aston Villa, so not an easy one at all, but for sure Douglas Luiz is on Arsenal's list as a midfielder for the present and the future."
