Arsenal EXCLUSIVE: Chelsea star David Luiz lined up by Arsene Wenger in £30m move

ARSENE WENGER is eyeing a sensational swoop for Chelsea star David Luiz.

Posted Tuesday, December 19, 2017 by Dailystar.co.uk

David Luiz is wanted by Arsenal in January

The Arsenal boss wants to bolster his defence and is considering a £30m bid for the out of favour centre back in next month's transfer window.

Chelsea boss Antonio Conte had a bust-up with the 30-year-old Brazilian last month and left him out of his squad for the visit of Manchester United on November 5.

Since then Luiz has made just one appearance, in a Champions League victory at Qarabag.

Conte insists his absence has been due to a knee injury.

But the Italian has already shown with his axing of striker Diego Costa - who was sold to Atletico Madrid after being dumped by text by his boss - that he has no time for rebels in his squad.

It is understood Chelsea are ready to listen to offers that come close to matching the £30m they paid Paris St-Germain for Luiz when they resigned him in August 2016.

Wages could be an issue for Wenger though, with Luiz on around £6m a year.

But Starsport understands Wenger is extremely keen to boost Arsenal's backline as he bids to lift his fifth place side up the table.

Manchester United, Bayern Munich and Juventus are also monitoring Luiz's position, with his Chelsea future looking in further doubt due to the emergence of Danish centre back Andreas Christensen.

It is believed Frenchman Wenger is also considering bidding for Manchester City skipper Vincent Kompany, 31, if the league leaders come back in for Arsenal's star striker Alexis Sanchez next month.

City offered £60m for Sanchez in the summer and are poised to revive their interest, with the hitman out of contract at the end of the season.

Arsenal host West Ham tonight in Carabao Cup quarter-finals with the likes of David Ospina, Mathieu Debuchy, Mohamed Elneny and Danny Welbeck set to start for the Gunners as Wenger rings the changes.