Gunners' midfield targets would be hard to prise away now

limits. Keeping Jorginho for another year would buy Arsenal time and that feels valuable given how they have little room for manoeuvre in the transfer market this month.

They are open to doing business this month but it will need to be a signing that really strengthens the squad to help them challenge for the title and in the Champions League.

As is the case with forward targets, signing a midfielder this month would not be easy.

Villa are adamant that Luiz is going nowhere, given they are second in the

Premier League and targeting Champions League qualification themselves.

The Midlands club showed their strong stance in the summer of 2022, rejecting a £25million offer for Luiz from Arsenal when he had just one year left to run on his contract. He has since signed a new deal and is thriving under former Gunners boss Unai Emery.