Why Aston Villa should keep hold of Douglas Luiz amidst interest
As per Bleacher Report (h/t Birmingham Mail), Manchester City are interested in re-signing Aston Villa star Douglas Luiz a year after they let him leave permanently. The report also suggests that last year’s league champions have the option to buy him back if he excels in the Premier League.
Luiz, 22, came through the ranks of Vasco da Gama’s youth system in Brazil and was signed by Manchester City in the summer of 2017. However, he couldn’t break into the English outfit’s senior setup and was sent on a two-year loan spell to La Liga side Girona to improve with regular game time.
Despite impressing in Spain for the last two years, he was sold by City to Villa last summer. Since then, he has become a key member of the squad though Dean Smith’s side have endured a disappointing campaign so far.
The Villans have been inconsistent throughout the campaign and with just 8 wins and 21 losses in 36 league games, they are currently in the 19th position in the league standings. They are at risk of returning to the Championship just after a year since getting promoted to the top flight.
However, with the season coming to end, the manager should focus on strengthening the squad regardless of the league status. While bringing in reinforcements to the squad to add depth in every area, the manager should also make sure to keep hold of the best players in the squad.
Luiz – A leader in Aston Villa’s midfield
At the moment, Villa have just five central midfielders in their ranks. Luiz has been once of the first names in Smith’s team sheet, making 33 league appearances so far. In the process, he has racked up 3 goals and 2 assists.
The other midfielders are Conor Hourihane, John McGinn, Marvelous Nakamba and Henri Lansbury. McGinn has featured in 25 games despite struggling with injuries and Hourihane has featured in 24 league games so far. But Lansbury has featured in just 9 games and has not made much of an impact on the squad. He also has just one more year left on his contract with the club.
It is clear that Villa have limited options in midfield and selling Luiz would put them in more trouble. He is just 22 and has a huge future ahead of him. The Brazilian international has also shown immense potential this season, especially since the restart of the league. Though Villa lost to Manchester United a week ago, he was the best player on the losing side.
With regular game time and experience, the former City man can develop himself into a leader in midfield for the Villans. And letting him leave would make it difficult for the club to sign a replacement for him especially due to the financial crisis developed due to the global pandemic.
Read more
- Why Aston Villa should go ahead with their pursuit of Mounir Chouiar
- Why Aston Villa should sell Lovre Kalinic as soon as possible
Verdict
At 22, Luiz has shown immense potential and has the ability to succeed at a higher level. The Brazilian has his best years ahead of him. Thus, they should avoid any temptation and block any exit for Luiz in the summer.
