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Arsenal already have David Luiz replacement lined up

David Luiz, Arsenal
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As David Luiz prepares to pull the curtain on a two-year spell, it appears Arsenal already have a ready-made replacement.

Reports emerged on Friday evening claiming that David Luiz will leave Arsenal at the end of the season.

The 34-year-old had a meeting with club officials on the same day and it was decided his two-year spell in north London would end once his contract expires in June.

Luiz, head coach Mikel Arteta, and the club board reached a mutual agreement to not extend the defender’s contract. Therefore, he can seek a new team to join in the summer as a free agent.

But while the former Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain star’s plans for next season remain unknown, Arsenal already have a ready-made solution to replace him.

According to the Mirror, William Saliba is the player that Arteta has in mind to replace Luiz for next term.

The 19-year-old is currently on loan at French club Nice after Arteta froze him out of the Gunners squad in the first half of the current campaign.

But Saliba has impressed in Ligue 1 and is expected to return to Arsenal in the summer. Arteta apparently sees ‘him as a big part of his side for next season’.

Even with Luiz set to leave, however, Arsenal still have other center-back options in Pablo Mari, Gabriel, and Rob Holding.

Despite mostly playing as full-backs, Calum Chambers and Kieran Tierney have both played in central defense this season as well.

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