In a recent print edition, Corriere dello Sport stated that Aston Villa midfielder Douglas Luiz is on the radar of AS Roma this summer. It is believed that the Italian giants have continued to monitor the Villans midfielder’s situation ahead of a potential move in this off-season.
Luiz’s Impressive Form In English Football
Luiz had a decent season at Villa Park recently as he managed to produce a run of solid performances at the centre of Steven Gerrard’s midfield. The Brazilian midfield ace made 35 appearances for the West Midlands club in the previous campaign, netting a couple of goals and securing three assists in all competitions.
The nine-time Brazil international anchored the midfield well based on his average of 1.7 tackles, 1.0 interceptions, 0.6 clearances, 0.7 shots, 1.1 key passes and 0.7 dribbles per 90 minutes in Premier League football. He has even tidy with his ball distribution after completing 86.8% of his attempted passes in the top tier of English football (stats via whoscored).
Should Aston Villa Boss Steven Gerrard Cash In On Luiz This Summer?
Luiz is a tough-tackling midfielder who can make some solid challenges to earn the ball back at the centre of the park. He doesn’t mind clearing the danger when required on the defensive end of the field and can offer decent protection for his teammates at the back.
The Brazilian midfield enforcer can create some inviting chances for others around him and can chip in by scoring the odd goal from time to time. However, he can sometimes be a bit inconsistent with his performances in midfield which was one of the many reasons why Aston Villa could only manage to claim a 14th place in the Premier League last season.
Luiz is good enough to play a vital role for the Villans in the upcoming campaign. However, he has just got a year left to run in his contract at Villa Park. Hence, Steven Gerrard would be wise to cash in on him this summer rather than risk losing him on a free transfer next summer.
The West Midlands club could use the money generated from Luiz’s potential sale to bring in a capable replacement ahead of the new campaign.
