As Douglas Luiz’s transfer from Aston Villa to Juventus at an advanced stage, it has emerged that the his agent has also offered the midfielder up to Barcelona this summer.
The Brazilian is expected to depart Villa Park after five years, during which time he has made 204 appearances with 22 goals and 24 assists to his name. It seems likely he will move to Turin in a deal worth close to €20m, whilst midfielder Weston McKennie and attacker Samuel Iling-Junior join Unai Emery’s team as part of the transaction.
Negotiations over personal terms for all three footballers are ongoing, although outside whispers begin to paint a wider picture at a crucial time in the transfer’s completion.
Spanish publication Sport have now claimed that Luiz’s agent has been in contact with Barcelona already this summer to facilitate an alternative move to La Liga. They go as far to say over recent weeks the 26-year-old’s representative has been ‘insistently offering’ his client up for the move.
Luiz reportedly has many admirers at Camp Nou, amongst them sporting director Deco. The former Chelsea and Portugal midfielder in his current role is believed to have travelled to England to scout Villa’s No.6 personally numerous times.
Ultimately, whilst this latest revelation comes as a distraction, that appears to be all it is. Barring any late shock Barca’s interest will seemingly not have any bearing on the midfielder’s current roadmap, nor McKennie’s and Iling-Junior’s, as the Spaniards have failed to act ahead of their European rivals.
Even though Luiz has become a vital, much-improved member of Villa’s squad since Emery’s arrival, his sale will greatly aid the club’s overall position in regards to the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules. It has been alleged cash needs to be raised from player sales prior to June 30 in order to minimise chances of a punishment, Everton and Nottingham Forest were handed points deductions during the 2023/24 campaign.
