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Arsene Wenger responds to reports of £28m bid for Brazilian star

By on January 2, 2018

Arsene Wenger has played down reports claiming that Arsenal have made a £28m bid for out-of-favour Chelsea defender David Luiz.

The January transfer window is open for business and widespread reports in the media in recent months have suggested the boss is targetting a new central defender.

With Nacho Monreal sidelined through injury, Per Mertesacker heading for retirement and Laurent Koscielny plagued by chronic Achilles issues it makes sense that we should be strengthening at the back.

Luiz has emerged as a surprise target in recent weeks and the the Daily Star carry a report from TransferMarketWeb today that claims Arsenal have now tested Chelsea’s resolve with a £28m bid.

The Brazilian international has fallen out-of-favour at Stamford Bridge following a bust-up with Antonio Conte and he hasn’t featured in the Premier League since the end of October.

That’s mainly due to an apparent knee problem but some speculate that the injury is just a cover-up and that Chelsea and Luiz are preparing for his January exit.

It looked like Luiz could be heading for the Emirates, however, Wenger has moved quickly to deny the rumours after claiming at his press conference today the reports are ‘wrong’.

When quizzed about a move for Luiz, Wenger is quoted as saying by the Daily Star:

“I don’t want to speak about any names, but these reports are wrong.”

It comes as no surprise to hear Arsene deny these Luiz reports as I wouldn’t expect him to do anything else, even if we had tabled a bid, but I have a feeling he’s telling the truth with this one.

I’ve said from the start that I didn’t think there was any serious foundation to the Luiz rumours and I haven’t read anything to change my mind.