Pundit thrilled by ‘absolutely ideal’ Douglas Luiz transfer situation at Aston Villa amid January exit talk
We’re delighted to welcome former Aston Villa full-back Alan Hutton as our exclusive columnist. Each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at Villa Park…
Alan Hutton has admitted that he is thrilled by the “absolutely ideal” silence surrounding a potential transfer away from Aston Villa for Douglas Luiz this January.
The 25-year-old has been a crucial part of Unai Emery’s side this season, starting all but one of Villa’s opening 20 Premier League games, but his performances have seen speculation about his future continue to circle.
Arsenal have repeatedly been linked with a move for the Brazilian in the past [ESPN, 27 November] however, in the opening days of the January transfer window, no side has made a move to try and prise Luiz away from Villa Park this month.
Hutton, like most Aston Villa supporters, is hoping the 25-year-old remains a Villa player beyond the end of January, but admitted it would be “ideal” for Emery’s side if Luiz was offered a new contract to secure his future.
“Hopefully it stays that way,” Hutton told Villa News.
“He’s been integral to Aston Villa and what they’ve done this season so the Villa fans won’t want to hear any sorts of rumours about Douglas Luiz moving on.
“The way he’s playing they’re always going to be there. That’s just the way it is in football. He’s at a good age as well, he’s still got a lot of football left in him so there will be clubs monitoring him.
“If Villa moving forward can tie him down to a long-term deal and cover themselves either way, whether he moves or he doesn’t, would be absolutely ideal. But you never want to lose a player like that, especially in the position that they’re in now.”
Luiz has been a key part of Aston Villa’s immense rise up the Premier League table this season, scoring six goals and picking up a further three assists as Emery’s side have found themselves in a race for the Champions League places [Fotmob].
As Hutton suggests, that good form won’t have gone unnoticed by other clubs in the Premier League and beyond. He may well still be an Aston Villa player for now, but talk surrounding his future is unlikely to go away anytime soon.
In other Aston Villa news, Micah Richards was quick to slam Jhon Duran’s “slow” performance against Middlesbrough in the FA Cup