Arsenal’s £100m transfer pursuit hands major boost to Aston Villa

Arsenal could be set to turn their attention away from Douglas Luiz to boost Aston Villa's hopes of keeping the Brazil international.

Luiz, 23, was reportedly the subject of three failed transfer bids in January - including a £30million offer from Tottenham Hotspur. Spurs ended up beating Villa to Uruguayan midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur, but Arsenal failed to strengthen their engine room.

Signing a new midfielder is reportedly Arsenal's top priority heading into the summer window, but Luiz isn't top of their list any more. It is being claimed that Wolverhampton Wanderers playmaker Ruben Neves is the midfielder Mikel Arteta wants.

The Gunners have a long-standing interest in Neves and, according to Sky Sports, Arteta has asked the club's hierarchy to make a move for the 25-year-old when the summer window opens in June. Neves recently suffered a knee injury ruling him out until May, but the midfielder has been hugely influential in Wolves colours this season.

Neves has scored four goals and grabbed two assists to put him amongst Wolves' biggest goal contributors in the Premier League this term. The Portugal international has played the some of his best football for Wolves in 2021/22 and Bruno Lage believes he has put his career 'on a different level'.

Arsenal will face competition for Neves, who is being courted by Manchester United and Barcelona - with the latter favourites to sign him according to The Athletic. Wolves have held talks with Neves' agent Jorge Mendes over a new contract, but Lage admits a huge offer could tempt the club into selling their star man.

“What he is doing this season is very good. I think also the way we play, he can show a better Ruben, and also the way he plays puts our team on a