Aston Villa could soon find themselves compelled to part ways with Douglas Luiz, a player long coveted by both Arsenal and Liverpool.
The 25-year-old Brazilian has remained a subject of transfer speculation for several months, drawing interest from various Premier League clubs owing to his outstanding performances this season.
Football Insider reports that Aston Villa might need to sell key first-team members to accommodate new signings ahead of the forthcoming 2024-25 campaign. Consequently, they might consider offloading Luiz to adhere to the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability regulations later this year.
Luiz, who is reportedly valued at £100 million, has played a pivotal role in Aston Villa’s pursuit of a top-four finish in the Premier League this season. With seven goals and six assists in 32 appearances across all competitions, the right-footed central midfielder has been instrumental in the team’s success.
Having contributed a total of 19 goals and 20 assists in 183 appearances for Unai Emery’s side, Luiz’s potential departure could mark the end of an era for Aston Villa.
Chris Sutton’s Prediction for the Upcoming Arsenal-Liverpool Clash
In his BBC column, former Chelsea forward Chris Sutton forecasts a 2-1 victory for Arsenal in their upcoming Premier League encounter against Liverpool on Sunday (February 4). He opines:
“Liverpool appears to be in excellent form currently. Their performance against Chelsea was highly impressive, and with Mohamed Salah set to return from his injury sustained at the Africa Cup of Nations, they look even more formidable. Arsenal, on the contrary, didn’t quite hit their stride against Nottingham Forest [in their 2-1 victory] on Tuesday, but they still managed to secure the win, which is what matters most.”
Sutton, favoring the Gunners to triumph over Jurgen Klopp’s squad, concludes:
“Mikel Arteta’s team may still lack a center-forward, but this time around, I believe they will capitalize on the chances they create. I’m not entirely certain why I’m leaning towards Arsenal to win this game, especially since Liverpool will surely find the net as well. However, the Gunners are in greater need of the points, and I think they’ll do just enough to secure them.”
Liverpool, who secured a 2-0 FA Cup victory over Arsenal last month, currently lead the 2023-24 standings with 51 points from 22 matches. Meanwhile, the north London outfit sits third with 46 points from 22 games.
In a league encounter earlier this season, the two sides played out a 1-1 draw, with Gabriel Magalhaes and Mohamed Salah scoring for their respective clubs last December.
