Arsenal and key man expected to agree to new contract

Arsenal and defender David Luiz are expected to come to an agreement over a new contract, according to the Brazilian's agent. 

It had been reported that Luiz signed a two-year deal when he left Chelsea for the Gunners last summer. 

However, reports last week confirmed that Luiz had instead signed a one-year contract with the north London side and that the deadline had passed to trigger the option for a one-year extension. 

Gunners boss Mikel Arteta is hopeful Luiz will extend his stay at the club, while the former Blues man is keen to remain with Arsenal. 

And Luiz's agent, Kia Joorabchian, insists his client doesn't want to leave the capital and that discussions between player and club over a new deal will take place soon. 

"He's very happy at Arsenal," Joorabchian told Sky Sports.  

"He has an extremely good relationship with both the coach and the sporting director. He has good relationships all throughout the club, right up to the owner. He respects everybody. 

"Arsenal had an option, which expired. We also had a pandemic [coronavirus]. So the option expired in the middle of the pandemic. We are all very aware of that situation and we are all trying, very slowly, to get back to this 'new normal'. 

"These contract situations, these renewals, if he stays or if he goes... will all sort themselves out when we get back to some kind of 'new normal'. 

"David will sit down with Arsenal before the season begins, have his conversations and they will both decide if he will stay or not. That will come before the season starts. The chances are very high [of Luiz being at Arsenal next season]. There is no desire to leave." 

Rumours over the weekend suggested Luiz could return to Benfica this summer, which have since been clarified by Joorabchian, who added: "What he said was, 'if the opportunity arose in the future - before I retire - I could go back to Benfica and finish my career where I started it'. But he never mentioned about wanting to go back to Benfica now."