The
former
Manchester
City
midfielder
was
chased
by
three
of
England’s
top
clubs
this
summer
after
entering
the
final
year
of
his
contract.
Chelsea
were
known
to
be
keen
before
they
eventually
signed
Juventus
midfielder
Denis
Zakaria
on
loan.
Liverpool
also
kept
their
tabs
on
Luiz
until
they
pulled
off
a
loan
for
another
Juventus
miedfielder
Arthur
Melo.
However,
it
was
Arsenal
who
chased
the
midfielder
until
transfer
deadline
day,
having
seen
a
£23
million
bid
rejected
by
Aston
Villa.
It
is
now
widely
rumoured
that
Luiz
has
made
up
his
mind
on
leaving
the
Midlands
club
next
summer
on
a
free
transfer
as
he
looks
for
a
step
up
in
his
career.
Arsenal
and
AC
Milan
are
thought
to
be
two
clubs
leading
the
race
to
sign
the
Brazilian
midfielder
on
a
free
transfer
and
land
a
bargain.
Luiz
has
seen
his
gametime
reduced
at
Villa
this
season
following
the
arrival
of
Boubacar
Kamara.
However,
due
to
Aston
Villa’s
struggles
this
season,
Steven
Gerrard
has
turned
to
him
and
he
has
delivered
and
seems
to
have
done
enough
to
book
his
starting
berth.
A
midfielder,
who
looks
equally
comfortable
at
number
six
and
number
eight,
Douglas
Luiz
has
all
the
attributes
of
becoming
a
top-class
midfielder.
He
has
a
solid
eye
for
a
pass
and
also
loves
to
test
the
keeper
form
long
range.
The
24-year-old
is
also
a
brilliant
set-piece
taker
and
has
already
scored
from
corners
directly
on
two
occasions
this
season.
Arsenal
could
have
clearly
benefitted
from
signing
another
midfielder
this
summer,
especially
someone
like
Luiz
who
is
combative
as
well
as
creative.
It
will
be
quite
a
bargain
if
they
can
get
the
former
Vasco
da
Gama
starlet
on
a
free
transfer
next
summer.
