Aston Villa: Teams already ‘watching’ Douglas Luiz at Villa Park ahead of summer transfer exit
Aston Villa may face a battle to keep Douglas Luiz during the summer transfer window as teams will already be “watching” the midfielder at Villa Park, according to Alan Hutton.
The Brazilian midfielder stole the show with his excellent performance during Villa’s 4-2 win over Nottingham Forest last time out, scoring his ninth and 10th goals of the season as Emery’s side reaffirmed their place in the race for the Champions League.
Luiz’s future has been the subject of plenty of speculation in the past with Arsenal one side previously linked with the 25-year-old. However, despite his strong start to the season, no teams made a move for the midfielder in January.
While Hutton admits there will always be teams eyeing Luiz and other stars in Emery’s side, he doesn’t think the Brazil international will be in a rush to leave Villa Park and has suggested that he could even sign a contract extension.
“I think you’re always nervous about that,” Hutton told Villa News.
“He’s no different from John McGinn, Ollie Watkins or Leon Bailey. You always have those fears that when your players are doing well, there are going to be other teams watching them.
“That being said, if Villa finish strong, do well in the Europa Conference League and can get Champions League football, these guys will probably come in and say ‘We’re a Champions League team, I’ve only got a year left on my contract, what’s going on here?’
“Then you get rewarded for your really good performances. He looks really happy, he’s a key part of the squad and he obviously feels the love.
“The fans love him and so do the players around him so is it somewhere he’d like to move away from when you can feel that there is something really special building? I wouldn’t personally.”
Will Douglas Luiz leave Aston Villa and Villa Park during the summer transfer window?
As Hutton suggested, Villa’s star players won’t have gone unnoticed by other clubs throughout the season so far and teams will be eyeing up the likes of Luiz and Watkins ahead of potential summer transfers.
But if Emery can offer the Brazilian star Champions League football at Villa Park, the 25-year-old has very little incentive to try and push for a move away as he will already be playing at the highest standard.
A big bid could always arrive and change both the player and Villa’s mind, but at the moment, there is little to suggest this will be Luiz’s final season in claret and blue.
In other Aston Villa news, Hutton believes Villa have boosted their Champions League hopes with a new update from Emery’s side
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