Aston Villa’s anxiety over Youri Tielemans situation sees them step up bid for replacement
Aston Villa’s injury woes have deepened after Youri Tielemans picked up a new issue against Newcastle United on Sunday.
Unai Emery’s Villa are in the thick of a Premier League title race after beating Newcastle 2-0, while leaders Arsenal suffered a shock 3-2 loss to Manchester United.
Villa did this without midfield maestro Boubacar Kamara, plus, captain John McGinn is set for a spell on the sidelines, too.
Days after Tielemans clashed with manager Unai Emery, the Belgian went off injured in Villa’s victory at Newcastle with an ankle injury.
Now, Villa are looking for midfield reinforcements, not to mention the fact that Ross Barkley is also out.
Aston Villa turn to Douglas Luiz amid injury issues
After Villa’s win over Newcastle, a result that took them to within four points of league leaders Arsenal, Emery confirmed Tielemans had picked up an injury.
He told reporters: “It was his ankle. Hopefully not a lot, but we must check him with the doctor and wait. I can’t say anything more.”
Now, Daily Mail reporter, Tom Collomosse, states that Villa have growing “anxiety” about Tielemans’ injury situation.
The Belgian international is said to be having a second assessment on his ankle problem, as fears grow about him being out for a “significant” spell, although this is unconfirmed.
As a result, Villa are closing in on signing former midfielder Douglas Luiz. The Brazilian is currently on loan at Nottingham Forest but hasn’t had much of a look-in under Sean Dyche.
Luiz left Villa for Juventus in 2024, but the move has not worked out, evidenced by the fact that he has been shipped out to Forest.
If Villa can bring Luiz in for the second half of the season, that could boost their chances of staying in the race for the Premier League title.
Is Luiz the right man for Villa?
Back in late 2023, reports suggested Luiz was valued by Villa at around £100million amid a sparkling run of form for Emery’s side.
But in mid-2024, his stock had fallen, with Juventus eventually paying £42.4m for his services on a deal until 2029.
It seems that he may have played his last game for the Italian giants, with Villa Park now likely again.
He has hardly set the world alight at Forest, and although Dyche hasn’t backed him to the hilt, the 27-year-old midfielder hasn’t looked like the player who shone at Villa.
Villa have also been linked with a move for AC Milan midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek, but as the winter window counts down, it appears no progress on that has been made.
If Villa can secure Luiz’s services, that would boost their midfield options. But there is no guarantee he will be a success again at Villa Park.
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