David Luiz has emerged as a shock transfer target for Arsenal (Picture: Getty)

Arsenal have emerged as the leading candidates to sign David Luiz from Chelsea in January, according to the Sunday Express.

The Brazil international has fallen out of favour with Antonio Conte ever since Luiz questioned the Italian’s tactics following a Champions League defeat against Roma in November.

The 30-year-old has subsequently been out of action with a knee injury which has seen him miss the Premier League champions’ last 11 games.

Real Madrid were reported to be in the running to sign the former PSG defender, while Telefoot claimed last week that Barcelona had submitted an opening offer for the out of favour centre-half.

Antonio Conte thinks with his tongue out
David Luiz fell out with Antonio Conte earlier this season (Picture: Getty)

But the Express claim it is Arsenal who are the unlikely front runners to sign Luiz who had been hoping to make his comeback in the FA Cup third round tie against Norwich.

Arsenal club captain Per Mertesacker is due to retire at the end of the season while Laurent Koscielny will turn 33 next September and has been regularly troubled by an Achilles injury.

Young England hopefuls Calum Chambers and Rob Holding have hardly been trusted at all in the Premier League this season, while Shkodran Mustafi was on the verge of joining Inter in the summer after just one season in north London.