Benfica’s president Luís Filipe Vieira has claims David Luiz is close to signing a contract extension at Arsenal.
The Brazil international went on the record a couple of weeks ago claiming he’d love to finish his career at the Estadio da Luz but Vieira played down chances of an imminent move by claiming the player’s wages are currently prohibitive.
Speaking to Portuguese television show BTV, he said: “I spoke to him yesterday, we have a father-son relationship. He was in the car with his agent, getting ready to sign a new deal with Arsenal.
“He loves Benfica, but also he’s a great professional and has to earn money. What he earns at the moment is unthinkable for Benfica to pay.
“If he’s in perfect condition at age 35, we’ll sign David Luiz, for sure.
“Now, for €8 million a year [wages]? It would have to be €1 million to sign him but then, as a father-figure, I’d say: ‘David, you’re not signing here, don’t be crazy, go earn your money.’
“If he came today, he’d have to come under these conditions [a big wage cut] otherwise he couldn’t come.”
Vieira’s hint of a new deal comes 24 hours after agent Kia Joorabchian confirmed Luiz was happy at the Emirates and open to extending his stay for another season.
Up until last week, everybody had assumed the defender had penned a two-year-deal when he joined for £8 million from Chelsea last summer. It turns out it was a one-year deal with an option to extend for 12 months and that option recently expired.
If Luiz isn’t to stay for another season, we’ll at least have to come to an agreement so that he can complete the rest of the current campaign. The Premier League has set a deadline of 23 June for temporary arrangements following the delay caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
of course he will stay, Kia needs his commission.
Who would want to move right now during a pandemic? I don’t think we will see many transfers anywhere this summer/transfer window.
Any average old/young injury prone player looking for a pay day at Arsenal.
He’ll be worth it for the post match interviews alone.
“in the car with his agent”….I sincerely hope he wasn’t. Not unless they also share a house, or his agent is a cab driver as well.
’If he’s in perfect condition at age 35’ said the Benfica president…
Luiz has just turned 33 so is a 2 year deal on the table?
If we can’t sell at least one of Mustafi or Sokratis this summer?
Then I don’t see how we can renew Luiz?
Having 3 centre half’s leave on free transfers next summer, would be such an Arsenal thing to do.
I’d at least hold off and let Luiz earn his extension over the next 12-14 games, before showing our hand.
Hopefully we’ve got a centre half due to come out of our academy who Arteta really fancies.
Sokrates said he wanted to leave for champ.league football . Assuming we don’t have a massive bounce into it.
Even to collect a small fee and wage bill drop will help , and player gets what he wants . E.g back to a German club
Looks Sideshow Bob will stay to collect his £££.
Vieira, whoa-oh-oh, Vieira, whoa-oh-oh….
TL; DR – Benfica president thinks Luiz not worth the money, suggests he keep milking Arsenal.