Arsenal to launch £20m bid for Aston Villa's Douglas Luiz as Hector Bellerin prepares to join Barcelona - reports

Arsenal are eyeing a £20 million deadline day bid for Aston Villa midfielder Douglas Luiz, according to reports, while Hector Bellerin looks set for a Barcelona homecoming. Brazil international Luiz is out of contract at the end of the season and Villa boss Steven Gerrard admitted on Wednesday that the player’s future was out of his control.

Ad Multiple outlets have reported Arsenal’s interest, but Villa are determined not to sell one of their key players. Tokyo 2020 (W)Every Premier League player registered for the men's Olympic football event14/07/2021 AT 14:55 The two clubs faced off in the Premier League on Wednesday night, when Luiz scored direct from a corner at the Emirates in a 2-1 defeat for Gerrard’s side.

The under-pressure Villa boss was asked about Luiz’s future after the game and said: “I am not in control of that.” “We are not in a position where we need to lose our top players but at the same time he has a year to go. Arteta: 'Anything is possible' as Arsenal maintain 100% record in EPL Martinelli fires Arsenal to fifth straight win after Luiz scores direct from corner It might be time to start taking Arsenal seriously — The Warm-Up “It is one of those touchy situations where the club has to do what is best for the club, not necessarily what is best for me.” Meanwhile, reports in Spain say that Bellerin has spoken to the Arsenal hierarchy and manager Mikel Arteta to warn them that he will soon receive an offer from Barcelona.

The north London club has agreed to terminate the right-back's contract a year early to allow him to join the Catalans on a free transfer. It would mark a homecoming for the former Barca youth player, who left Camp Nou to join the Gunners as a teenager in 2011.