Douglas Luiz alternative:Arsenal told of ‘perfect’ Douglas Luiz bargain transfer alternative for Mikel Arteta
Arsenal have been told of a midfield signing that would be “perfect” for Mikel Arteta’s side, who could be available for a cut-price fee in January.
The Gunners have been rumoured to be renewing their interest in Aston Villa midfielder Douglas Luiz in January, after making several failed attempts to sign the Brazilian on transfer deadline day.
Arsenal are reportedly set to make a third offer in January for Luiz, however their bid is likely to be lower than the £23million offered at the end of the summer as the Gunners believe a valuation closer to £15m would be fair for a player who is in the final year of his contract.
A similar case could be made for Leicester midfielder Youri Tielemans, who the north Londoners alongside Manchester United and Newcastle were linked with, but a move failed to materialise. The Belgian’s contract at the King Power Stadium also expires at the end of the campaign and could be available for a bargain price in January.
Leicester are unlikely to want to part ways with the 25-year-old star as they currently sit bottom of the Premier League table, but their financial issues have been well-documented and they may rather cash in on Tielemans in January as opposed to losing him for free in the summer.
Tielemans was a key cog in Leicester’s top four pushes in recent seasons, and former West Brom striker Hal Robson-Kanu believes that he would be a “perfect” fit at Arsenal. “In terms of players in the Premier League who are playing at a team where they’re probably bigger and better than the team, he’s 100% one of them,” Robson-Kanu told talkSPORT.
“I’ve played against him first hand, and he’s top four [quality], really good. His manipulation of the ball, the way he dictates the play, he will move the ball through the lines, receives the ball in tight areas and will penetrate and hurt the opposition from a deeper place.
