David Luiz is reportedly planning for a potential exit from Arsenal this summer.
The 34-year-old, who arrived from Chelsea in the summer of 2019, is out of contract at the end of the season and talk of a renewal hasn't been ruled out by Gunners manager Mikel Arteta.
"He is extremely positive [influence]," said Arteta. "The professional he is, how he looks after himself, but also how he looks after his teammates. He’s always willing to help, he’s always really positive around it.
"He’s got huge experience of how to win things, but as well how to manage difficult moments and you need that.
"And then he gives a lot of composure to the team both with and without the ball. He’s a presence, he’s a leader and someone that is playing really well at the moment.
"What I want is that he keeps playing like that until the end of the season and we’ll make that decision together."
However, according to CBS Sports, representatives of Luiz have begun to contact potential suitors for the Brazilian defender's signature with his future at the Emirates Stadium in doubt.
Furthermore, the report states that Luiz's services have been offered to a club in MLS (Major League Soccer) but his wage demands mean a move is unlikely.
There is also the option of staying in Europe amid links to Serie A outfit Lazio and the Luiz situation is one of the key things Arteta must resolve before the end of the season.
With that said, some Arsenal fans have already named the perfect long-term replacement for David Luiz if he was to leave at the end of the season.
That honour falls to William Saliba who has been on loan in Ligue 1 with Nice since the January transfer window.
Whether the Frenchman is ready for such responsibility remains to be seen, but Arteta has confirmed the defender will get his chance to impress in pre-season.
"He will come back for pre-season and he will be with us," said the Spaniard. "Hopefully he will come back after playing a number of games and his performance raising and his development progressing in the right way. That’s why we made that decision.
"I know that sometimes it’s difficult to explain or understand after the money that the club has spent trying to bring him in, to send him on loan.
"But a lot of things have happened to him he’s a long-term player for us and we need to protect him as well. And giving him three or four games is not enough.
"For him he needs much more than that, because what happened in the last 18 months, he’s been through some personal problems as well that we have to try to help him and stay as close as possible to him.
"And now he needs to play, play and play and enjoy his profession as well. And in order to do that I think we found the right club with him.
"He’s very happy to got there now. Hopefully he can enjoy his football and be ready for us for next season."
