Liverpool are set to enter a competitive race with Barcelona and Arsenal for the signing of Aston Villa midfielder Douglas Luiz as Jurgen Klopp seeks to strengthen his squad, as per Football Insider.
The online news portal claims that Villa are hesitant to part ways with Luiz during the January transfer window, prompting all interested clubs to redirect their focus towards a potential summer move.
Despite Arsenal having two bids for Luiz rejected, with the Gunners offering up to £23m for the Brazilian in the summer of 2022, Villa seem reluctant to negotiate.
Arsenal had hoped to finalise the deal before the transfer deadline but faced rejection.
There’s speculation that Arsenal may consider using Smith Rowe as part of the negotiation, as Villa reportedly have an interest in signing the English forward, according to talkSPORT’s Alex Crook via GiveMeSport.
Villa had previously seen bids of £25 million and £30 million rejected for Rowe back in 2021.
Luiz, with only two years left on his current contract with Aston Villa after signing a new deal in October 2022, has become a prominent midfielder in the Premier League, showcasing consistent performances for the Villans.
Having joined Villa from Manchester City in a £15 million deal in 2019 following their promotion to the Premier League, Luiz has made 181 appearances, scoring 19 goals, and providing 20 assists across all competitions for Unai Emery’s side.
This season, he has featured in 30 games, contributing to 13 goals in all competitions.
According to Football Insider, Villa may encounter challenges in retaining the South American when the summer transfer window opens.
Despite the transfer rumors surrounding Luiz, Aston Villa are positioned as title contenders in the Premier League, boasting a solid start to the campaign.
They currently hold the third spot in the league table with 43 points, just two points behind leaders Liverpool, albeit having played one more game than Jurgen Klopp’s side.
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