Arsenal may have just helped Aston Villa in Douglas Luiz contract talks

Douglas Luiz is yet to sign a new contract at Aston Villa and continues to be linked with a move away from the club.

The midfielder's future at Villa Park will come under increasing scrutiny as he enters the final 12 months of his contract at the end of the season. Luiz was reportedly the subject of multiple offers in the January transfer window, but Villa declined those approaches and hope to pin him down to a new deal soon.

Reports suggest Arsenal, Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur all held an interest in the Brazilian in January. Arsenal are said to be particularly keen on the 23-year-old as they prioritise signing a number eight this summer. Manager Mikel Arteta is said to be a big fan of the Brazilian, and worked with Luiz when he was Pep Guardiola's assistant coach at Manchester City..

However, the Gunners have also been linked with several other midfielders ahead of the summer transfer window, and fresh reports now claim they could pursue a move for £25 million-rated Napoli star Fabio Ruiz, even if the Spaniard favours signing for either Real Madrid or Barcelona, according to Corriere dello Sport.

The Express adds that If Arteta deems the Ruiz move off the table then he may reignite his interest in Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder Yves Bissouma or Leicester City’s Youri Tielemans – who are both out of contract at their respective clubs in 2023. That could block a pathway to the Emirates for Luiz, while Newcastle are also in the frame for Villa targets Bissouma and Kalvin Phillips.

Another reported admirer of the Brazilian, Tottenham, signed Rodrigo Bentancur from Juventus in January. Steven Gerrard himself is a big fan of Luiz, and The Athletic claim Villa rejected three January bids for the