Arsenal are yet to open contract discussions with veteran centre-back David Luiz, according to reports.
The Brazilian defender has entered the final few months of his deal with the north London side.
He was widely expected to agree fresh terms with the Gunners in January, but that didn’t happen.
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According to the Evening Standard, Luiz still hasn’t begun contract negotiations with Arsenal.
They are running the risk of losing him for free in June under the Bosman ruling, although club chiefs don’t seem to be worried about the situation.
Arsenal look set to discuss the 34-year-old’s future come the end of the campaign. They want to focus on an important season run-in, which includes a Europa League semi-final against Villareal and a crucial top six race.
In the mean time, the report states Luiz will consider his options away from the Emirates.
He’s previously signalled his desire of returning to former club Benfica, whom he represented between 2007 and 2011.
Valencia and Napoli are other potential suitors for the Brazil international, who has been capped 56 times by his country.
Luiz may also consider retirement and begin a new role as a coach. The report states that he is keen to go into that line of work once his retirement is confirmed.
The player has had an intriguing spell at Arsenal since joining from Chelsea in August 2019. He’s conceded more penalties than any other player since that move, which includes five during the 2019/20 campaign.
Those defensive disasters have been coupled with some convincing displays, clearly confusing Mikel Arteta about his influence on the team.
Luiz has recently been left out of Arteta’s squad altogether. The Spaniard opted to play Rob Holding and Pablo Mari at centre-back during the 1-0 loss to Everton, where keeper Bernd Leno let down the Gunners with a terrible error.
Luiz hasn’t been selected in the last four Arsenal squads, heightening rumours that he is surplus to requirements at the Emirates.
The player started his career in Brazil with EC Vitoria before joining Benfica in 2007.
After making 130 appearances for the Portuguese outfit, Chelsea gave him his big break in 2011.
A spell with Paris Saint-Germain followed in 2014 as Luiz became one of the most valuable defenders in the world, partly down to his free-kick skills.
But those days are long behind him and he is now facing a Premier League exit.
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