Aston Villa journalist Ashley Preece has been sharing his thoughts on the possibility of Villa midfielder Douglas Luiz leaving Villa Park during the upcoming summer transfer window for a return to his previous club Manchester City.
This comes after Preece made an appearance on a recent episode of the Birmingham Mail’s Claret & Blue Podcast where he answered a variety of questions concerning the Midlands club.
One question that was raised during the podcast focused on whether or not Pep Guardiola’s side are likely to use their reported buy-back clause to sign Luiz this summer.
In response, Preece had this to say on the matter. (26.10)
He said: “I think it’s a high chance, highly likely given £27.5 million the clause is, getting a Brazilian international for that, [he’s] still only 23, [it would] be a sound investment for Man City to go back in.
“Fernandinho is 36 next month, he’s likely to depart. They might get Douglas Luiz in as cover for Rodri.
“If I was going to make a decision on it, I think he probably does go. We’ll see, though, there’s a lot to happen. Man City have to come in and spend £30 million on a player that will sit on the bench perhaps.
“Whereas Dean Smith loves him, he’s been really good, [a] really good addition to Villa – £15 million was well spent in that regard.
“To answer the question, it’ll be an interesting one to keep an eye on. I don’t want to put my hat into the ring and say he’s definitely off, but I think why not? The clause is there for a reason.”
Villa signed Luiz back in the 2019 summer transfer window from the Manchester club for a fee of £15.12 million as Preece mentioned in the podcast.
Since then, the 23-year-old, who is currently valued at £31.5 million, has made 70 appearances for the Villans in which he has managed to score five goals and provide seven assists in the process (per Transfermarkt).
TIF Thoughts on Ashley Preece’s comments on Luiz and a potential return to Man City…
Given how Guardiola was left “sad and disappointed” that Luiz was denied a work permit to play for City back in August 2018 and the fact that he has now gathered some Premier League experience with Villa, it seems likely that the Spaniard would be happy to see Luiz return to Manchester this summer if the club chooses to use their reported buy-back clause.
Would you be disappointed if Douglas Luiz left Villa this summer?
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In our view, unless Villa are told that there is no danger of City signing Luiz back this summer, they should perhaps start looking at replacements just in case.
In other news: ‘The club are going to be alarmed’ – Journalist drops big Aston Villa summer prediction