Liverpool have set their sights on a new defensive midfield target ahead of the January transfer window.
Reds supporters have identified the holding midfield position as one of the key areas for improvement so far this season. Although Alexis Mac Allister has been doing a fine job as a stand-in, the feeling is that a more natural replacement is needed.
As a result, there have been links aplenty to the likes of Fluminense midfielder Andre Trindade. With rumours about Andre’s move to Anfield cooling of late though, 90min have now thrown another Brazilian name into the mix: Douglas Luiz.
Luiz has been turning heads at Aston Villa this season, with 90min claiming that Arsenal, Manchester City and now Liverpool all want him.
For their part, the Reds are said to have ‘made it clear’ that they would be interested in Luiz should he leave Villa in the near future.
However, with Unai Emery reportedly ‘adamant’ that the 25-year-old won’t be sold, Liverpool are claimed to have had no ‘encouragement’ that Luiz could leave.
Luiz back on Liverpool’s agenda
This isn’t the first time that Liverpool have been linked with a move for Douglas Luiz. However, the timing of the rumours couldn’t really be more different.
The Reds were previously said to be looking at Luiz back in summer of 2022. As they scrabbled around for a fix to their midfield issues, Liverpool reportedly tried to sign the Brazil international on transfer deadline day.
Back then, Luiz was not a particularly attractive option. With Villa not going well under Steven Gerrard at that time, the former Man City youngster was seen as a player not quite good enough for Liverpool.
Nevertheless, Gerrard reiterated the ‘fantastic’ qualities of Luiz and would not sell him. “I’d like to keep him, he’s a fantastic player, I’ve made that abundantly clear,” the Liverpool icon said via Birmingham Mail. Jurgen Klopp ended up with Arthur Melo instead.
Over 12 months on and things have markedly changed for Luiz. He’s now seen as potentially one of the best defensive midfielders in the Premier League. Having scored five times for fourth placed Aston Villa already this season, he’s chipping in with goals, too.
It now looks like his signing last year would have been an almightily shrewd one for the Reds.
With Villa flying so high and Luiz so crucial to that, it’s difficult to see him going anywhere anytime soon. At least, if he is to leave, it’ll be for a transfer fee much bigger than the £15m he was signed for.
Although Emery has the Villains doing well though, it’ll take some going to get into the Champions League. If he keeps up this kind of form all season, Luiz will surely want a taste of that at some point. This could be one to keep an eye on next summer.
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