David Luiz could be on his way to Arsenal after he did not train with the rest of Frank Lampard’s squad on Wednesday, with Chelsea believed to be open to letting him join their London rivals.

The 32-year-old signed a new two-year deal in May, having come within weeks of becoming a free agent in what was an unusual step for Chelsea, who have a policy of not offering more than one-year deals to players over 30. Yet with the new head coach offering no guarantees he would be in his first-choice side, it is understood David Luiz asked to leave Stamford Bridge after Arsenal rekindled their interest in him; they had failed to land him at the end of the January 2018 window.

Attempts to sign Dayot Upamecano from RB Leipzig have so far come to nothing after the German club set the France Under-21 international’s asking price at £70m while Juventus have quoted them £50m for Daniele Rugani. That has led Unai Emery, Arsenal’s manager, to turn to David Luiz, with Chelsea likely to demand around £20m for a player they re-signed from Paris Saint-Germain in 2014.

That £34m deal was also completed on the final day of the transfer window and it appears likely that the Brazilian could be on the move again in the final hours before the market closes for Premier League clubs – something he has made a habit of during his career in Europe. He first signed for Chelsea on the final day of the January 2011 window for £21.5m before being sold to PSG, where he briefly worked under Emery, for £50m, a world record fee for a defender at the time.

David Luiz, who is represented by Kia Joorabchian, arrived in England after four seasons with Benfica, whom he had joined on loan on the final day of the 2007 January window. In total he has generated an estimated £117m in transfers during 12 years in Europe.

Philippe Coutinho, another Joorabchian client, had also explored the possibility of moving to north London but has rejected Tottenham’s offer to take him on loan.