Arsenal remain interested in signing Douglas Luiz and hope they can strike a cut-price deal for the Aston Villa midfielder in January.
The Gunners will make another attempt to land Luiz, 24, during the next transfer window, according to The Sun.
Two deadline-day bids failed to prise the Brazilian from Villa’s grasp as the North London outfit looked to bolster Mikel Arteta’s options in the centre of the park.
Luiz will have just six months remaining on his contract at Villa Park come January after rejecting multiple offers to extend his stay with Steven Gerrard’s side.
And Arsenal now hope an offer of £15million — substantially less than the £23m they were willing to pay in the summer — will convince the Villans to sell.
An injury to Thomas Partey means reinforcements in that area remain pressing for the Gunners, with Arteta eager to ensure their strong early form does not tail off.
A lack of opportunities with the Midlands outfit has seen Luiz, capped nine times by his country, grow frustrated and he was reportedly keen to make the switch earlier this year.
The playmaker knows Arteta from their time together at Manchester City, which should prove extra motivation to join the current Premier League leaders.
In other news
Barcelona are interested in signing Manchester City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan, 31, next summer, according to reports in Spain.
Everton forward Anthony Gordon, 21, says he was “never desperate to leave” the Toffees in order to join Chelsea for £60m.
