Luke Edwards has been speaking on the Transfer Gossip Daily podcast about Douglas Luiz’s unclear Aston Villa future.
Not so long ago, Aston Villa were looking to tie Luiz down to a new contract, but now with less than 12 months left on his current deal and having started just a single league game this season, the Brazilin is being linked with a move away.
It has been reported that Atletico Madrid and Newcastle United do indeed hold an interest in the midfielder and this may well be the last chance that Villa can recoup a decent transfer fee for the midfielder they paid £15 million for back in 2019.
Edwards believes that Luiz could well join Atletico Madrid amidst the chaotic situation at Villa due to the poor start they’ve experienced on the pitch.
(7:50) “Villa have been linked with Bissouma before he went to Tottenham, they were linked with Kalvin Phillips before he left Leeds from Manchester City, so you’ve got a player like Douglas Luiz and he’s looking and thinking, well, these players are playing my position, why are you so desperate to sign a replacement?
Should Villa sell Douglas Luiz?
Yes!
No!
“So he’s obviously got doubts about his security and his standing and his status at Aston Villa, so I won’t be surprised if he’s interested in the move and as I say, wherever he goes this summer, I don’t know.
“I’m sure Aston Villa would prefer to keep him and I think they are trying to keep him but if you’ve got a player in the last 12 months of their contract, and they’ve got interest from a club like Atletico Madrid and they’re being linked with others, they’re going to have itchy feet and it’s not a strong position for Aston Villa to be in.
“I think it just paints into this sight picture of a slightly confused, slightly chaotic start to the season.”
TIF Thoughts on Luiz’s future…
It’s very bizarre that Luiz has been allowed to enter the final 12 months of his contract and even more bizarre that Steven Gerrard appears reluctant to use him often from the start despite Villa struggling considering that he ranked inside the top five for tackles won, pressures, interceptions and progressive passes last season.
There would be no surprise that given Luiz’s lack of minutes thus far and interest from Atletico Madrid and high-flying Newcastle if his head has already been turned and is not 100% committed to Villa and Gerrard.
With the deadline now looming large, Villa would likely need to have a sufficient replacement lined up before they sanctioned a late sale of Luiz and would likely prefer he moved to La Liga instead of a Premier League rival.
However, it looks like he could yet stay, with the club since stating that he will not be allowed to leave on deadline day.