Arsenal may struggle to sign Aston Villa midfielder Douglas Luiz in January and are now looking at cheaper alternatives.
Arsenal appear to have no plans to spend big on a midfielder in January despite links with Aston Villa star Douglas Luiz.
That’s according to transfer insider Dean Jones, who was speaking to Give Me Sport about Arsenal’s transfer plans.
Arsenal are expected to target another midfielder in January amid concerns over Thomas Partey’s ongoing injury problems.
A number of names have already been linked but Villa ace Douglas Luiz is thought to be the main target…
Arsenal looking at ‘cheaper’ alternatives to Douglas Luiz
Fabrizio Romano claimed earlier this month that Arsenal would see Luiz as their top January target and the ‘perfect’ signing to bolster Mikel Arteta’s squad.
Arsenal have liked Luiz for a long time now and have failed to re-sign him in 2022.
Villa are now thriving under Unai Emery, however, and will be getting big money for the Brazilian midfielder.
Transfer insider Dean Jones has told Give Me Sport that a deal for Arsenal to sign Luiz in January is ‘unrealistic’.
Jones believes Villa will command more than £60million for Luiz and Arsenal are looking for ‘cheaper players’ in January.
“I absolutely think Douglas Luiz is a good person to consider for Thomas Partey, there’s no doubt about that,” Jones said. “I think it’s unrealistic in January and I’m not even sure it’s realistic in the summer, given the way Aston Villa are building at the moment, and how well he’s playing.”
“I think the valuation around it as well, you’re looking at more than £60m, that’s quite difficult to achieve. From what I understand Arsenal are looking for cheaper players in January,” he said.
Arsenal will be looking for January signings
This feels a little like last January.
Arsenal were interested in signing Mykhailo Mudryk from Shakhtar Donetsk but were unwilling to pay the astronomical demands.
Instead, Arsenal completed two deals with Mudryk heading to Chelsea instead.
Arsenal paid £27 million to sign Leandro Trossard and around £20 million to land Polish international defender Jakub Kiwior.
Those were two sensible moves to strengthen Arsenal’s squad without completely breaking the bank.
It sounds like Arsenal are going down the same route again, hoping to find a gem that will cost a fraction of Villa’s demands for Luiz.
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