Douglas Luiz has an uncertain future at Aston Villa after a disappointing season under Steven Gerrard. The 24-year-old struggled in a makeshift defensive-midfield role and is out of contract in 2023 without a new deal on the horizon.
Gazzetta Dello Sport (h/t Sport Witness) say AS Roma are hoping to capitalise on the situation by bringing Luiz to the Stadio Olimpico and Gerrard has somewhat prepared for his exit by signing Boubacar Kamara, but is he worth keeping if possible?
Luiz isn’t close to putting pen to paper on an extension, so Villa must decide whether to cash in early or risk losing him for nothing next year. And while making back some of the £15m spent in 2019 is smart business, Luiz could be key to Villa’s push for Europe next season.
Morgan Sanson is surplus to requirements under Gerrard, so that’s one midfielder who will need replacing. Finding a player who shares Luiz’s attributes without breaking the bank isn’t easy.
The Brazilian international was second for highest pass completion ratio (86.8%) and second for most passes per game (1354). Only one midfielder has made more tackles (59) and interceptions (34) than Luiz while only two players have created more chances (37), so he’s far too useful to sell.
Despite having the same agent as Philippe Coutinho, Villa aren’t making progress in tying Luiz down, but they shouldn’t give up this summer. Luiz could be a good asset on the pitch even if he wants out in 2023, so the focus should be on building a squad that convinces him to stay.
