Arsenal: £25m South American now 'very open' to Emirates move

Arsenal are likely to enter fresh negotiations with Aston Villa as transfer target Douglas Luiz is ‘very much open’ to making a move to the Emirates Stadium after his ‘head has been turned’, according to CBS reporter Ben Jacobs.

Although the Gunners spent close to £120million during the summer window, boss Mikel Arteta will be given the opportunity to welcome further reinforcements to the capital in January.

According to The Sun, Arsenal are set to make another move for Luiz after failing to strike a deal on deadline day.

The report suggests Arteta has set his sights on bolstering his midfield options and he hopes Villa could be persuaded to cash-in on the nine-cap Brazil international at the turn of the year.

Arsenal failed to lure Luiz away from his current employers despite lodging bids worth up to £25million during the final hours of the summer transfer window.

It is understood that the 24-year-old wanted to leave the Midlands and, although Villa held firm, he may not be in his current surroundings for much longer.

That is because Luiz will enter the final six months of his £52,000-per-week contract in January, meaning the winter window will present the Villans with their final opportunity to secure a transfer fee unless they can tempt him into signing a new deal.

Jacobs understands that Arsenal are eager to sign Luiz and, in a major boost for the north Londoners, the defensive midfielder is keen to complete the switch.

However, the journalist believes the Gunners will not be prepared to offer as much as they did in September due to his precarious contract situation.

Jacobs told GIVEMESPORT: “I think he is a player that Arsenal really want and it wouldn’t remotely surprise me if a third bid is going to be tabled for