Aston Villa could struggle to keep hold of midfielder Douglas Luiz at Villa Park
Since journalist Dean Jones tells GIVEMESPORT where midfielder Douglas Luiz stands in the Aston Villa squad, the team may find it difficult to maintain him at Villa Park.
Unai Emery has had a successful first season in charge of the West Midlands team.
Douglas Luiz news from Aston Villa
In the summer of 2019, Aston Villa announced that it has acquired Douglas Luiz from Manchester City for £15 million. Opportunities for the South American to join Pep Guardiola’s City team had proven difficult. Prior to then, he had spent the previous two seasons on loan at Girona in Spain.
However, since joining the Villans, his worth has increased far beyond the £15 million they had aside for him. This is because he has played a significant role in the club’s transformation from relegation hopefuls to a Europa Conference League team. Under the direction of Dean Smith, Steven Gerrard, and Emery, Luiz has secured his spot in the starting XI.
However, Luiz has advanced to a new level under the latter. He frequently controls matches as a forceful midfielder and poses a threat to the defense with his long passing range and superb set-piece delivery.
Due to his performances, the 25-year-old has been called up to the Brazilian national squad. The nine-cap hero, though, was not chosen by the Selecao for the World Cup qualifying matches against Venezuela and Uruguay in October. Luiz’s decision to devote his long-term future to the Villans by signing a contract deal that extends through the summer of 2026 gave Villa a lift last year.
The former European Cup champions, though, will be mindful of interest in his services from some of the greatest teams in Europe. Journalist Ben Jacobs claimed that Liverpool had internal discussions about Luiz, who is valued at £60 million by Villa, around the close of the most recent summer transfer season. In the meantime, Jones revealed to GIVEMESPORT in August that Arsenal was still interested in signing the player despite having declined their offer.
Luiz is ‘probably one of the best players’ at Aston Villa – Dean Jones
Jones believes that Luiz is “one of the best players” in Villa’s squad and acknowledges that he’s “gone to another level” under Emery. However, the journalist wonders how the Villans can keep the Brazilian at the club in the wake of potential Champions League interest. He told GIVEMESPORT:
£26 million Luiz replacement at Aston Villa
Villa has a number of choices in case they decide to replace the Brazilian enforcer if Luiz leaves during the January or summer 2024 transfer windows. Aston Villa is reportedly interested in Real Madrid midfielder Dani Ceballos ahead of a potential winter transfer fee of €30 million (£26 million), according to Defensa Central.
The 27-year-old, who was previously on loan at Arsenal under Emery, is finding it difficult to obtain opportunities at the Santiago Bernabeu, and a return to the Premier League might sound appealing. Ceballos is unlikely to replace Jude Bellingham or Federico Valverde in Carlo Ancelotti’s starting lineup.
What next for Aston Villa and Luiz?
After missing out on Brazil’s squad for their upcoming World Cup qualifiers during the season’s second international break, Luiz must focus on maintaining his form for Aston Villa. The Villans return to action in two weeks, welcoming West Ham United to Villa Park on 22nd October, hoping to secure their first victory over the Irons since 2015. Emery then leads his side to AZ Alkmaar in their third Europa Conference League group stage fixture, aiming to take pole position in the group with a victory.
Luton Town visit the West Midlands for the first time in the Premier League this season on 29th October, before Villa make the short trip to Nottingham Forest on 5th November. A rematch with AZ Alkmaar awaits on 9th November, before Villa prepare for the season’s third international break when Fulham arrive in the second city on 12th November.