'Got money' - Aston Villa tipped to deal Tottenham and Arsenal transfer blow

Former Leeds United and Derby County striker Noel Whelan thinks Aston Villa should offer Douglas Luiz a new contract.

Douglas, a starting midfielder under Villa boss Steven Gerrard, is into the final 18 months on the deal he signed upon arriving from Manchester City in 2019.

Arsenal and North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur have also been credited with an interest in the 23 year-old while AS Roma manager Jose Mourinho and Newcastle United have also been linked with the Brazilian.

It had even been claimed that Spurs submitted a £32 million bid for Douglas, which would never have been accepted by Villa, for the player.

Douglas is expected to continue in the defensive midfield position for the rest of the season after Gerrard's side failed to land a player who can play as a 'four' with Rodrigo Bentancur signing for Spurs.

Whelan thinks Villa need to flex their financial muscles to commit Douglas to a new deal that would also ensure the player does not get tempted by a move away and enter the final 12 months of his contract and see his value plummet.

"It is all about performances and consistency," Whelan told the website Football Insider.

"That is when you earn the amount of money that you might be getting on a new contract.

“If you are not playing regularly, then you do not really have a leg to stand on.

“Douglas, 18 months, he has been consistently in the side and put in some great performances.

“They have got money, they have got all the finances in place and he has been a player for them that has played continuously.

“If you are going to be a top club playing at the top end of the league, you have got to have the squad that can handle that.”