Former Tottenham Hotspur striker Darren Bent is backing Aston Villa’s Premier League enforcer Douglas Luiz to choose Arsenal over his former employers if both clubs step up their interest this month.
Arsenal, Bent reasons, have more than enough high-class midfield options at their disposal already.
Is there a better, more well-balanced engine room anywhere in the division that Mikel Arteta’s Thomas Partey – Declan Rice – Martin Odegaard triumvirate? A perfect blend of ferocity, energy, creativity and poise.
As for Tottenham? Promising pre-season performances from Yves Bissouma, Gio Lo Celso and Oliver Skipp suggest that Ange Postecoglou’s more proactive, possession-heavy approach will get more out of Spurs’ midfield options than his defence-first predecessors.
But the true test of Tottenham’s squad is about to begin. What’s more, there is still a chance that Pierre-Emile Hojbjer says farewell before the September deadline; Atletico Madrid confirming their desire to bring a new midfielder to the Spanish capital.
Arsenal vs Tottenham for Aston Villa’s Douglas Luiz
So, if regular first-team football is his ambition rather than silverware, Bent feels that Luiz would be better off in the white corner of North London rather than the red one.
“(Luiz should choose) Spurs,” Bent tells talkSPORT (10 August, 5pm). “(Arsenal) are stacked in there.”
Arsenal had three bids rejected for Douglas Luiz back in 2022. But, according to Give Me Sports’ Dean Jones, the Gunners remain interested.
Tottenham, meanwhile, reportedly see the Brazil international as a readymade Hojbjerg replacement (Daily Mail).
Though having signed a new deal less than 12 months ago – and with Aston Villa emerging as dark horses for a Champions League place in 2023/24 – this would seem like a strange time for the club’s reigning Player of the Year to turn his back on a team making serious progress.
“His qualities are necessary for us,” coach Unai Emery told VillaTV in April. “And for the idea I have to create a team, he is very important. He’s very important and he has big potential.
“I’m trying every day to support him and to push him to do one more step ahead as a player. He’s doing it and he’s working very well.
“He is taking responsibility on the pitch like I want. We are being demanding of him to do more because he can, and he can take steps forward.”
Aston Villa paid £15 million to sign Luiz from Manchester City in 2019. He is reportedly valued at closer to £40 million these days.
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