Aston Villa are reportedly closing in on a deal for Manchester City midfielder Douglas Luiz.
Aston Villa could be filling their empty defensive-midfield role this summer with the capture of Manchester City’s Douglas Luiz.
The Telegraph have claimed that Villa are set to sign the 21-year-old Manchester City ace, who could cost the newly-promoted side £15 million.
The potential imminent signing of Luiz may well be Dean Smith’s most important capture yet because of what the City player will bring to the Villa Park table.
He would become Villa’s specialist defensive-midfielder, and unless they go in with another player of his ilk, he would be the only specialist player in that position at the club, which would make him even more important – someone like Conor Hourihane can fill that deep role, but he is more attack-minded.
Not only that, the background profile of Luiz is pretty strong, from being purchased by a manager of Pep Guardiola’s standing to the above report stating that City have inserted a buy-back clause in his contract – that in itself says a lot.
Plus, if a player like Luiz, if he signs, can produce performances from the middle of the park then it would add balance to Smith’s team.
It would protect a now stronger looking defence, and most importantly, it would allow the likes of Jack Grealish and John McGinn to free themselves further up the field.
Some may point towards Tyrone Mings as Villa’s most important capture, and understandably so, but Luiz may be the one to unlock Grealish and allow him that extra space, which is so hard to find in the Premier League.
Either way, it seems as though Villa are making a stunning purchase and one that has no doubt got the supporters excited ahead of the new season.
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