{"id":300133,"date":"2023-12-15T22:09:30","date_gmt":"2023-12-15T22:09:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tellmysport.com\/?p=300133"},"modified":"2023-12-15T22:09:30","modified_gmt":"2023-12-15T22:09:30","slug":"arsenal-close-in-on-100m-target-guardiola-sent-video-to-home-office-about","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tellmysport.com\/soccer\/arsenal-close-in-on-100m-target-guardiola-sent-video-to-home-office-about\/","title":{"rendered":"Arsenal close in on \u00a3100m target Guardiola ‘sent video to Home Office’ about"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Arsenal are reportedly eyeing a \u00a3100million move for Douglas Luiz six years after Pep Guardiola attempted to persuade the Home Office to grant the Brazilian a visa. Luiz has been one of the stars of the Premier League season, helping to guide Aston Villa to third.<\/p>\n

Villa were able to sign Luiz from Manchester City in 2019 after he failed to earn a work permit with Guardiola\u2019s side. At the time, immigration laws meant that because he had been signed by City from Vasco da Gama and had no international experience, he was not eligible to play in the UK.<\/p>\n

A \u00a315m payment to City from Villa meant that he was subsequently able to successfully apply for a work permit. According to The Athletic, Guardiola was so desperate to keep Luiz at the Etihad Stadium that he sent videos of the midfielder\u2019s performances to the Home Office.<\/p>\n

The point of the exercise was to convince the authorities that Luiz was capable of being a success and should therefore be granted special dispensation. Guardiola\u2019s unorthodox move ultimately failed.<\/p>\n

READ MORE: <\/strong> Man Utd to rival Arsenal for \u00a317m bargain as Chelsea deal ‘blocked'[LATEST] <\/strong><\/p>\n

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Luiz has been one of the Villans\u2019 best players over the last four years. He finally earned a senior debut with Brazil 2019 and has made 11 appearances in total for the South Americans.<\/p>\n

According to the Daily Mail, Arsenal are one of the clubs interested in signing Luiz but face a potential \u00a3100m bill. The Gunners failed with a \u00a325m move in the summer of 2022 and Villa believe their valuation is justified by recent deals that have exceeded \u00a3100m, including Arsenal\u2019s Declan Rice and Chelsea\u2019s Moises Caicedo.<\/p>\n

Villa boss Unai Emery is desperate to keep Luiz beyond the January transfer window. The Spaniard said earlier this month: “He\u2019s playing very good. He\u2019s improved a lot, his commitment is amazing.<\/p>\n