Arsenal's £75m transfer target discusses future plans amid Barcelona interest

Arsenal transfer target Douglas Luiz has discussed his aims for the future in a revealing interview ahead of Aston Villa’s Europa Conference League quarter-final meeting with Ligue 1 club Lille.

The Brazil international is believed to be one target that remains under consideration within the Gunners hierarchy - despite recent reports suggesting their Premier League rivals could demand as much as £75m for their prize asset. Luiz is a long-term target of Arsenal’s and there were widespread reports suggesting the Gunners were unsuccessful with a series of offers for the talented midfielder during last year’s January transfer window and this season’s summer transfer window.

Luiz, who has scored 22 goals and provided 24 assists in 196 appearances since joining Villa from Manchester City in 2019, has also attracted interest from Barcelona and there have been reports in Spain suggesting the La Liga club’s sporting director Deco has watched the midfielder in action on a number of occasions this season.

Luiz has ignored questions about over any transfer speculation and insisted he was aiming to be part of ‘a new chapter’ with Villa as Unai Emery’s side aim to win this season’s Europa Conference League and secure a place in next season’s Champions League.

He told DAZN Portugal: “We’re all very happy with how this season is going, especially me, with all the history that the club is building and for my goals and assists, too.  Personally, I’m very happy with it all and I think it’s just the start of a new chapter. As I always say, Aston Villa is a huge club and we’re prepared to write a new chapter.  Since Unai arrived there was a huge boost in the group’s confidence. I think he brought confidence to the team because we always had a good group of players.  The squad is pretty much the same, only one or two players were bought in, so I think his work was important for the history that we’re writing.”

Arsenal will get a first-hand look at Luiz in action when they host Villa in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon.