Aston Villa midfielder Douglas Luiz “wants to be a part of” the Champions League amid growing transfer interest from Arsenal, according to Alan Hutton.
The Brazilian has been in excellent form for Unai Emery’s side this season, scoring nine goals and laying on five assists for his teammates in 29 Premier League games to help Villa climb to fourth in the table this season.
However, his form hasn’t gone unnoticed by teams higher up in the Premier League with reports suggesting that Arsenal are keen to bring the 25-year-old to the Emirates during the summer transfer window [Daily Mail, 1 March].
While Hutton admits that it will be hard for Villa to stand in Luiz’s way if a big offer arrives for the midfielder, he believes Luiz will be happy to stay at Villa Park because of the project Emery is currently building.
“I think it definitely helps,” Hutton told Villa News.
“You want to keep your best players and he’s definitely one of them to lose him weakens your side unless you’ve got a plan moving forward that you know you can replace him, but I think he’s been outstanding.
“The Champions League, I think it helps. That would have been his ambition when he came to the league. I know the Manchester City thing didn’t quite work out, but when he goes to Villa you want to progress, you want to do better.
“Playing Champions League football, that’s when all eyes are on you. He wants to be part of that so I think it would help and he can see that the club is moving forward under this new manager.
“I think he would be happy at this moment in time, but you need to see how the club develops over the next couple of seasons.
“If a big team comes in for you and they’re challenging for league titles, it’s going to be difficult to stand in somebody’s way.”
will Douglas Luiz leave Aston Villa for Arsenal in the summer transfer window?
Luiz’s performances in claret and blue this season have shown that he is more than capable of not only playing for a team fighting at the top end of the Premier League, but a side playing in Europe week in and week out.
The Brazilian has taken the Europa Conference League in his stride and impressed domestically and that was always going to see other sides sit up and take note ahead of the summer transfer window.
Villa’s profit and sustainability concerns may also play a part in their business this summer. As Hutton suggested, it is hard to see how Emery and those around him could turn down a big bid for any of their stars, should it arrive.
Until the window slams shut at the start of next season, speculation around Luiz’s future won’t go anywhere. It could be a long summer of rumours and various reports for Villa supporters.
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