Exclusive: Ty Bracey shocked by new Aston Villa contract development for Douglas Luiz
We’re delighted to welcome Villa View host Ty Bracey as our exclusive Aston Villa columnist each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at the club…
Reports that Douglas Luiz is set to sign a new contract to remain at Aston Villa came as a “huge surprise” to Ty Bracey this week.
The Telegraph reported on Wednesday (10 August) that the Brazilian was due to put pen to paper on a new three-year deal, after a summer where there was speculation he might leave since his current agreement runs out next year.
With the arrival of Boubacar Kamara as a natural defensive midfielder Luiz’s opportunities could become limited but Bracey is glad to hear that he is set to stay and would like to see the pair play in the same team this season.
Speaking exclusively to Villa News he admitted: “I thought it was a huge surprise for me to be fair because it had been a very quiet topic. We hadn’t heard much and we’re usually quite good with tying people down with contracts when they’re getting into their final year or so.
“So it was one of those things where I thought he was going. His girlfriend [Villa Women’s Alisha Lehmann] had only signed a one-year extension on her contract so I thought he was going to go on a free next summer.
“But hopefully those rumours are true and we can tie him down on a long-term deal.
“I think [his role now that Kamara has come in] massively depends on the shape that we play. He isn’t a natural six, he plays a little bit in front of that.
“I think he definitely needs a go in the middle. They are still experimenting with that. I’d like to see him a little bit further up the field past Kamara.”
If Luiz is set to remain for longer than his final year then there is reason to hope that the women’s team might have Lehmann for longer as well, despite the generally shorter contracts in the women’s game.
Steven Gerrard left the 24-year-old on the bench for the victory over Everton, despite using all five substitutions, after bringing him on as a late replacement for free agent signing Kamara in the defeat at Bournemouth.
If that pattern remains the former Manchester City man might prefer to leave still, but from a club point of view it would at least have protected their investment if he has more years to run on his deal.
In other Aston Villa News, Dan Bardell admits losing Michael Beale was a blow but has high hopes for Neil Critchley.