Pundit claims Steven Gerrard could let top Arsenal target quit Aston Villa for just £10m in January
Former West Ham and Celtic striker Frank McAvennie believes that Aston Villa could sell midfielder Douglas Luiz for as little as £10million in the January transfer window.
Premier League rivals Arsenal are still known to be keen on striking a deal for the Brazilian in the new year after seeing two offers knocked back late in the summer window.
Indeed, it’s reported the Gunners submitted a series of bids of up to £25million. However, Villa refused to budge and wanted nearer to their own valuation of £30m.
Mikel Arteta wanted Luiz on board to bolster a midfield missing the injured Thomas Partey and Mohamed Elneny.
McAvennie claims that Luiz should look to leave in January to at least bring in some revenue for Villa. However, the player could just sit on his contract and earn a nice signing-on bonus as a free agent.
The player himself has already told friends that he is keen on a move to north London.
That appears to be half the job done for Arsenal, it just remains for a fee to be agreed. And that’s where McAvennie feels there could be a big difference between this summer’s valuation and a January deal.
The former Villa forward, who made three league appearances for the club in 1992, told Football Insider: “You’re only worth what people offer for you.
“When people want you that’s when you’re worth money and you can bargain and get the money up.
Luiz urged to do the right thing
“I don’t know him personally, what his temperament is like. I don’t know if he wants to stay or if he’s got ambitions to go then it doesn’t matter how much Aston Villa want to drop the price, if he doesn’t want to go until next year then he won’t go.
“If he wants to leave in January, Steven Gerrard will have to tell him they’re dropping the price to £10million or £15m. And if he says yes he’ll leave and if he says no he’ll stay until the summer.
“I don’t think players need to money nowadays the way they used to. So Gerrard can talk to him and ask him if he wants to see out his contract or get a bit of money for the club. If he’s got any decency he’ll get some money for the club.”
Luiz actually scored against Arsenal in a 2-1 defeat at the Emirates n last August. However, that was as a substitute, with Gerrard favouring other midfielders over the 24-year-old.
Luiz does have pedigree, however, having won nine caps already for Brazil. It just appears to be a simple matter of Gerrard not valuing Luiz’s qualities enough to be a regular starter at Villa Park.
That could, in turn, open the door for a bargain Arsenal move in the new year.
Villa are next in action on Sunday October 2 when they head to Leeds. However, the Gunners face Brentford in a tricky away trip on Sunday afternoon.
Arteta’s men will certainly be hoping for a better result than their season opener against the Bees last season when they lost 2-0.
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