In a recent report, Planet Sport offered an update on the future of Aston Villa midfielder Douglas Luiz this summer. It has been claimed that the Villans midfield ace is gathering interest from Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur during this summer transfer period.
Luiz’s Solid Run Of Form In English Football Last Season
Luiz had a solid season at Villa Park where he managed to play a key role at the heart of Steven Gerrard’s midfield. The Brazilian talent was involved in 35 matches for the Villans in the previous campaign, finding the back of the net twice and registering three assists across all competitions.
The 24-year-old protected his backline well by averaging 1.7 tackles, 1.0 interceptions, 0.6 clearances, 0.7 shots, 1.1 key passes and 0.7 dribbles per game in the Premier League. He was even accurate with his ball distribution after completing 86.8% of his attempted passes in the English first division (stats via whoscored).
Should Aston Villa Head Coach Steven Gerrard Cut Luiz Loose This Summer?
Luiz is a solid tackler of the ball and can make some timely interceptions for his team at the centre of the park. He can scan the danger quickly and doesn’t hesitate to clear his lines when the opposition are on the front foot. Luiz has got the eye to play a decisive pass in the opponent’s half but needs to add a bit more productivity to his game going forward.
At 24, the Brazilian midfield ace’s best years are ahead of him. He is primarily a defensive midfielder but can even assume the duties of a box-to-box midfielder if required. However, he has just got a year left to run in his contract at Villa Park. Therefore, Aston Villa boss Steven Gerrard should focus on cutting him loose this summer for a cut-price rather than risk losing him on a free transfer at the end of next season.
Luiz remains a valuable member of the Villans‘ first XI but Gerrard would be wise to cash in on him and use the money generated from his potential sale to bring in a suitable replacement before the end of this transfer window.
