David Luiz's contract situation at Arsenal explained as Gunners risk losing defender for free
Arsenal run the risk of losing defender David Luiz for free during the next transfer window.
The Brazilian centre-back - a surprise £8million arrival from London rivals Chelsea on summer deadline day last year - signed an initial one-year contract upon his arrival at the Emirates Stadium that included the option for a further 12 months.
However, Arsenal are yet to exercise that automatic extension, with Luiz currently set to become a free agent on June 30.
Standard Sport understands that Arsenal are hoping to at least seal a short-term extension with the 33-year-old that would see him remain at the club until the end of the delayed 2019-20 campaign.
In order to do so, the Gunners and Luiz will have to come to a mutual agreement by no later than June 23, which was the deadline confirmed by the Premier League earlier this month after initial uncertainty regarding the future of soon-to-be out of contract players.
Luiz has made 32 appearances in total across all competitions for Arsenal as a regular at the heart of defence under both Unai Emery and Mikel Arteta.
However, the club do have the option to sign Flamengo loanee Pablo Mari on a permanent deal this summer and will also be boosted by the imminent arrival of 2019 summer signing William Saliba following the end of his loan spell back at Saint-Etienne.
Third-choice goalkeeper Matt Macey is the only other senior Arsenal player set to see their contract expire at the end of next month, with Real Madrid midfielder Dani Ceballos and Portuguese full-back Cedric Soares - who is only contracted to parent club Southampton until June 30 - also due to depart as things stand.
