Douglas Luiz keen on swift Premier League return – with two clubs eyeing up January transfer
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Douglas Luiz is willing to return to the Premier League less than seven months after his departure from Aston Villa, talkSPORT understands.
And the Brazilian isn’t short of interest, with two clubs in the English top-flight keeping tabs on his current situation in Turin.
Luiz joined Serie A giants Juventus from Villa last June for a cool £42.3million, with Samuel Iling-Junior and Enzo Barrenechea moving in the opposite direction.
However, Luiz’s transfer has not gone to plan.
Of the 26-year-old’s 16 appearances across all competitions this term, just three of them have been starts.
Juventus boss Thiago Motta has instead preferred a midfield pivot of Manuel Locatelli and Khephren Thuram while Teun Koopmeiners operates as the attacking midfielder.
As a result of his lack of game time, talkSPORT understands Villa and Manchester City are open to offering Luiz an exit route.
Speaking on talkSPORT Breakfast, chief football correspondent Alex Crook shed light on the transfer situation surrounding the Brazilian.
“He’s (Luiz) keen to come back to the Premier League,” Crook said.
“I think his old club, Aston Villa, are monitoring the situation.”
Crook added he checked some time ago whether City, who had Luiz on their books before selling him to Villa in 2019, were in the market for him.
The Premier League champions played down talk of a move, but Crook revealed the situation has changed.
“Since then, I have been told on good authority they are looking for a defensive midfielder,” Crook said.
Crook added: “I think it’s that midfield area Pep Guardiola himself admitted to me after they drew at Brentford that it’s a problem for them.
“If it’s an easy deal to do, then I can see that City would be interested. Certainly I think it’s one to keep an eye on.”
City have been in desperate need of defensive midfield reinforcements since Ballon d’Or winner Rodri tore his ACL against Arsenal earlier this season.
With the Spaniard gone for the season, Guardiola has had to rely on Mateo Kovacic as his primary option at the base of midfield.
Ilkay Gundogan is also on City’s books, but at age 34, the German is not the phenom he once was.
Given City are still competing on three fronts this season, Guardiola is under no illusion he needs some fresh faces.
City have already made a big splash in the January window, as talkSPORT understands they are closing in on an agreement with Eintracht Frankfurt for forward Omar Marmoush.
The club has also agreed a £33m deal plus add-ons with Lens for centre-back Abdukodir Khusanov.
City’s activity in the transfer market follows their improved run of form as they are unbeaten in their last six games across all competitions.
Guardiola’s side have also smashed home a whopping 23 goals in that space, including a 6-0 mauling of Ipswich Town on Sunday.
City will look to keep their impressive performances as they travel to take on Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday.
