Arsenal have been linked with an interest in signing Ruben Neves but it looks like Mikel Arteta is going to miss out on him.
The midfielder joined Al-Hilal in the summer but after just six months, Neves wants to return to the Premier League and the Gunners are one of the teams who wish to bring him on board.
The Arsenal manager is eyeing Ruben Neves as the long-term alternative to Thomas Partey however the Portugal international could be on his way to Newcastle United.
Newcastle United are looking at Neves as a potential loan replacement for Sandro Tonali, who is serving a ban for breaching betting rules but the Magpies were not the favourites because of a new incoming rule.
The EPL clubs were about to block related-party loans that would make sure clubs with the same ownerships could not do business in January and once this decision was passed, Newcastle and Al-Hilal won’t be able to exchange players.
However, in a big sigh of relief, the Premier League clubs have voted against this resolution meaning Neves’ loan move to Newcastle is very much on.
14 out of the 20 Premier League clubs needed to vote in favour of the resolution for the changes to be made but as per reports, only 13 voted for a change to be implemented meaning things will stay as it is.
This is a big blow for Arsenal because Eddie Howe is confident of landing Ruben Neves and now that same-party dealings are not blocked, Al-Hilal will obviously want to send the midfielder to the Magpies.
The North London side are looking at Aston Villa’s Douglas Luiz and if they feel they cannot compete with Newcastle for Ruben Neves, Arsenal will most probably shift their focus towards the Villa midfielder. Luiz has been on Arsenal’s wishlist for a long time and they even tried to sign him during the summer. Now that Ruben Neves looks to be on his way to Newcastle United, Mikel Arteta will hold that his board can bring in Douglas Luiz during the January window.
Aston Villa are clearly not interested in parting ways with the midfielder but there are hopes from the Arsenal camp that Luiz will try and force an exit.
