Reports indicate that Liverpool, alongside Premier League competitor Arsenal, have entered the fray to acquire the services of Brazil’s Douglas Luiz from Aston Villa.
Benefiting from Unai Emery’s tenure at Villa Park, the 26-year-old midfielder showcased remarkable performance throughout the 2023/24 season, tallying nine goals and five assists in the Premier League.
Despite securing a spot in the Champions League, Villa find themselves among six Premier League teams categorised as ‘must sell’ to circumvent a potential points deduction next season due to Profit and Sustainability regulations.
Douglas Luiz stands as a valuable asset primed for transfer, drawing interest from several prominent clubs within the Big Six over the past year.
Former Villa CEO Keith Wyness disclosed to Football Insider that Luiz “wants to go” this summer and an “offer could be accepted”.
He said: “My Villa contacts have said that Luiz could well go this summer. I think that would be a shame. He’s done really well and he’s gone from strength to strength.
“He’s a crucial part of any Champions League-quality squad that Villa could currently put out. But there is a feeling that he may have to go.
“A lot will depend on how they get rid of some of the younger players. I’ve mentioned Jacob Ramsey, and he’s a key piece.
“If he goes for the right price, they can then focus on keeping Luiz. But Luiz is someone who wants to go and may have to go in this summer window.”
During the previous summer transfer window, Liverpool invested approximately £200m in acquiring Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Ryan Gravenberch, and Wataru Endo.
However, despite these signings, there are suggestions that Liverpool might seek a new defensive midfielder this summer.
According to Italian reports, Liverpool have identified Luiz as a “valid option” to replace Thiago Alcantara, who is set to leave the club at the end of his contract this summer.
The report mentions that Liverpool faces competition from Arsenal and Juventus for Luiz, but Aston Villa’s asking price poses challenges for the Serie A giants.
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