Premier League club Arsenal could free player David Luiz as talks about his contract extension have not yet taken place. The player's contract is said to end by next month and financial restrictions likely to mean his spell with Mikel Arteta’s side is curtailed after a year.
Premier League club Arsenal could free player David Luiz as talks about his contract extension have not yet taken place. The player's contract is said to end by next month and financial restrictions likely to mean his spell with Mikel Arteta’s side is curtailed after a year.
The Brazilian defender was an £8m Deadline Day signing from London rivals Chelsea last August. He had replaced club captain Laurent Koscielny, who joined Bordeaux the previous day.
Arsenal has the option to extend the centre-back’s deal by extra 12 months when it expires on June 30, a detail that emerged on Wednesday after it had been widely believed that he signed a two-year contract upon joining from Chelsea last summer.
However, no final decision over his future has been taken. The club, on the other hand, is acutely conscious that David Luiz, who turned 33 last month, is nearing the end of his career.
Luiz had earned praises and had also benefitted from Arteta's appointment. However, earlier this month he gave a clue to where his future may lie. He had told Brazilian television network SporTV: "I always said that I would like to end my career at Benfica.
"I love Benfica. My dream is to step on the pitch of Estadio da Luz in their colours." Luiz played for the Portuguese club between 2007 and 2011.
As for his future with the Gunners, David Luiz may see his contract extended, in line with other free agents across the Premier League.
Arsenal would be able to bring William Saliba, the highly-rated young defender on loan at St Etienne. The 19-year-old would be well short of match practice, even by current standards.
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