Aston Villa working on shock swoop for former hero after another injury blow
Villa have begun working on a loan move for their former midfielder Douglas Luiz before next week’s transfer deadline.
Boss Unai Emery has stepped up efforts to recruit another midfielder, after it emerged Youri Tielemans could miss around two months with an ankle injury sustained in Sunday's 2-0 win at Newcastle.
Tielemans is due to get a second assessment on the injury but the initial prognosis would see him join Boubacar Kamara and John McGinn on the sidelines.
Luiz has been steadily climbing Villa's list of potential targets as the transfer window has progressed and a reunion is now increasingly likely.
The Brazil international made more than 200 appearances for the club before joining Juventus for £42.5million in 2024.
After a difficult first season in Italy he joined Villa’s Premier League rivals Nottingham Forest on loan last summer but has made only eight league appearances after struggling early in the campaign with a hamstring injury.
Villa have endured a rough month on the injury front with Kamara lost for the season and McGinn facing more than a month out.
Enquiries have been made over AC Milan’s Ruben Loftus-Cheek but signing Luiz is of increasing appeal due to the player’s quality and prior knowledge of Emery’s methods.
Luiz has also been a target for Chelsea this month but a move back to Villa, where he remains a popular figure, would be of interest.
Villa are already close to completing the signing of striker Tammy Abraham from Besiktas in a deal worth around £18million.
The club has limited spending power due to the need to remain within the parameters of a settlement agreement made with Uefa, following a breach of financial fair play rules.
Abraham’s arrival was made by possible by the departure of Donyell Malen to Roma earlier in the month, on an initial loan deal with an obligation to buy.
