Douglas Luiz Remains Atop Arsenal F.C.’s Wish List

Douglas Luiz remains a leading target for the Arsenal F.C.

The English professional football club is eyeing a reshuffle of its midfield in January with the 25-year-old Brazilian professional footballer, who plays for Aston Villa, a leading target and the future of Thomas Partey uncertain, according to ESPN.

Douglas LuizArsenal had three bids for Luiz rejected in September 2022 — the final offer totaling around £25 million ($31.6m) — and the Brazil international subsequently signed a new contract which ties him to Villa Park until 2026.

Luiz has been a key figure for Unai Emery‘s side this season, starting all 13 Premier League games with Aston Villa fourth in the table following Sunday’s 2-1 win at Tottenham.

Arsenal’s interest remains but they would likely have to make a dramatically improved offer to convince Aston Villa to allow Luiz to leave in the middle of such a promising campaign.

Arsenal have limited funds available after spending more than £200m in the summer — significantly, their deal to sign goalkeeper David Raya from Brentford was structured initially as a £3m loan with an option for a permanent move worth around £27m specifically to aid Arsenal’s compliance with financial rules.

They could raise money for new signings with Partey’s departure. The midfielder has started just three league games this season amid ongoing injury problems.

The 30-year-old is now sidelined until the New Year with a hamstring issue and is due to join up with Ghana for the Africa Cup of Nations, which runs from January 13 to February 11

Reports in Italy said Juventus are tracking Partey, and sources have told ESPN that Arsenal considered allowing the midfielder to leave in the summer but a suitable offer failed to materialize amid reports clubs in Saudi Arabia were also interested at the time.

Arsenal are open to keeping Partey but it remains to be seen whether a club formalizes their interest as his departure would give Arsenal more financial clout to test Aston Villa’s resolve in keeping Luiz.

Mikel Arteta may choose to prioritize other areas, however, given they are also tracking Brentford striker Ivan Toney and Wolves winger Pedro Neto.

Pau Torres Leaving Hometown Club Villarreal for Premier League’s Aston Villa

Pau Torres is ready to Aston-ish

Aston Villa has signed the 26-year-old Spanish professional soccer player from Villarreal for an undisclosed fee, the Premier League club announced on Wednesday.

Pau TorresTorres had a reported release clause of €70 million ($77.8m) but with the centerback having only a year left on his contract with Villarreal, the English side agreed a fee in the region of €36.7 million ($40.8m).

“The 26-year-old defender, who has been capped on 23 occasions for his country, arrives at Villa for an undisclosed fee,” Villa said in a statement.

“A native of Villarreal, Torres came through the ranks of his hometown club and went on to become a key player for the LaLiga side.”

Torres won the Europa League with Villarreal under current Villa boss Unai Emery when they beat Manchester United in the 2021 final.

Villa have been looking to add experience to their squad ahead of their Europa Conference League campaign and Torres is the club’s second signing of the transfer window, following the arrival of midfielder Youri Tielemans from Leicester City earlier this week.

Mikel Arteta Reportedly to be Named Next Arsenal FC Manager

Mikel Arteta could be leading the Arsenal Football Club in the near future…

The 37-year-old Spanish professional football coach and former player, the current Manchester City assistant, is set to be named the next Arsenal manager in the coming days, according to ESPN, despite the Etihad club’s disappointment with the way the Gunners have pursued their former club captain.

Mikel Arteta

Chief negotiator Huss Fahmyand managing director Vinai Venkateshamtraveled to Manchester after Arsenal’s defeat to City over the weekend and spent more than two hours at Arteta’s home in Cheshire, discussing the job.

Arteta was set to meet with Josh Kroenke, the son of owner Stan Kroenke, on Monday. The American was at the game on Sunday and was set to interview the Spaniard alongside Raul Sanllehi, the head of football at the club, and Venkatesham and Fahmy.

City have not yet received a formal approach for Arteta and were left bewildered by the images appearing to show the Sunday meeting at Arteta’s home. And sources have told ESPN that City bosses were surprised they were not approached for talks — either formal or informal — on Sunday despite spending the day at the Emirates, although they will not stand in the way of the Spaniard if he decides to take the job at the Emirates.

Should Arteta be offered the job and decide to succeed interim manager Freddie Ljungberg, Arsenal would have to pay a substantial compensation fee, believed to be seven figures.

Arteta spent five years at the Emirates under Arsene Wenger(2011 to 2016) before spending the past three and a half years as Pep Guardiola‘s assistant at the Etihad. He has a contract with City until 2021 but is keen on rejoining Arsenal.

Arteta was nearly handed the job 18 months ago, but Unai Emerywas preferred by then-CEO Ivan Gazidis.

Freddie Ljungberg has been interim manager since the sacking of Emery last month, but the Swede, who pleaded with the club to resolve its manager situation quickly, has struggled to have an impact. The former Gunner could remain in Arteta’s staff, though, if the Spaniard does indeed replace him.

Arteta certainly lacks managerial experience, as he has never been in charge of a club’s first team, but he is highly thought of by the Arsenal hierarchy and by the people who have worked with him at Manchester City.The Gunners are in crisis at the moment with just one win in their past 12 matches in all competitions. Yet, they are still only seven points from fourth place in the table. and sources say Arteta believes he can turn things around once in charge.

Real Madrid’s Dani Ceballos to Join Arsenal on Season-Long Loan

Dani Ceballosis weaponizing…

The 22-year-old Spanish professional footballer has agreed to join Arsenal on a season-long loan with the Gunners expected to finalize the terms of the agreement with Real Madrid soon, according to ESPN FC.

Dani Ceballos

Tottenham HotspurSevilla and AC Milan also tried to sign the midfielder but different sources told ESPN FCthat Unai Emery has been decisive in Ceballos accepting Arsenal’s proposal even though they won’t participate in the Champions League this season.

Another key factor in Ceballos’ decision was Arsenal’s flexibility to accept a personal loans deal without an option to buy as opposed to the Spurs‘ insistence on a permanent deal being an eventual feature of any deal they made.

Ceballos has failed to establish himself at Madrid since joining from Real Betis in 2017, but club sources trust that this loan will help him to earn “regular time” and prove why Real Madrid “made a big gamble” on him in the summer of 2017.

Ceballos caught the attention of Milan, Tottenham, Sevilla and Arsenal after helping Spainwin the European Under-21 Championshipearlier in the summer.

Ceballos wanted to leave on loan to find regular playing time and decided the Premier Leaguewas the best place to continue his development.

Tottenham looked the favorites but sources close to Emery said he has been “key” in the decision as the Arsenal manager is ready to “to give him regular game time to prove his worth” and to “give him freedom to shape the game in the midfield.”

The agreement between clubs is also on track and several media outlets in Spain are even claiming that that the player could undergo his medical exams this week before travelling to USA to join Arsenal in their preseason tour.