Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal will beat Graham Potter’s Chelsea to the signing of Aston Villa defensive midfielder Douglas Luiz in the summer of 2023, according to journalist Simon Phillips.
The well-known and well-respected journalist has told GiveMeSport that he expects Arsenal to sign Luiz on a free transfer next summer if the former Manchester City player sees out his current contract at Villa.
Phillips believes that Chelsea will try to sign the 24-year-old next summer as well, but he thinks that it is their London and Premier League rivals Arsenal who will end up securing the services of the £52,000-a-week (SalarySport) star.
The journalist said about Luiz: “The situation there if he does become a free agent, Chelsea will probably have a look at it. But I think he’ll end up joining Arsenal.”
Arsenal and Chelsea linked with Douglas Luiz of Aston Villa
Earlier this month, BirminghamLive reported that former Premier League and UEFA Champions League winners Chelsea are interested in signing Luiz, who is out of contract at the Villans in the summer of 2023.
The report claimed that Arsenal wanted to sign the Brazilian in the summer of 2022, but Villa did not want to sell him for anything less than £40 million.
The Gunners did not pay the transfer fee needed.
Phillips is a Chelsea fan who is well connected at the club, and his verdict that Luiz will end up at Arsenal and not at the Blues is something that could come true.
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