Atletico Madrid set to bid £20m for Aston Villa midfielder Douglas Luiz – report
Atletico Madrid are set to test Aston Villa with a £20m bid for Brazilian midfielder Douglas Luiz before the transfer deadline, according to The Telegraph.
Luiz had been close to signing a new three-year deal at Villa Park earlier this summer, but after starting just one of the first four Premier League games of the season a move away could be tempting.
Atletico and an unnamed Premier League club are interested, with Villa likely to demand more than just £20m for the 24-year-old, having turned down a £30m bid from Newcastle in January according to the report on 31 August.
Steven Gerrard is unlikely to want to lose Luiz so close to the end of the transfer window, having been keen to strengthen his midfield for most of the summer.
A move to a Champions League club could be enough for Luiz to reneg on the three-year extension that was previously agreed. His current contract is due to expire at the end of the season.
No chance
Unless Aston Villa are able to secure a big fee for Luiz, there is absolutely no way on Earth that the club can allow him to leave less than 48 hours before the deadline.
While Luiz hasn’t been a regular starter under Gerrard, with the boss preferring to use Jacob Ramsey and John McGinn ahead of Marvellous Nakamba and Boubacar Kamara, his qualities are undeniable.
He’s excellent at reading the game and breaking play up, while he’s tidy in possession and capable of driving with the ball at his feet too.
Something Gerrard has been keen to build is depth within his squad and Luiz provides that, giving the team options tactically and with their approach for certain games.
If a big bid comes in it will have to be considered because of his contract situation, especially with the player’s wishes in the mix too, but without a replacement it’s simply a disaster waiting to happen if it does.
In other Aston Villa news, Paul Merson says the club have cup finals to come with Gerrard under pressure