Chelsea could be offered the chance to sign former Aston Villa midfielder Douglas Luiz, according to reports in Italy.
Juventus are keen to keep hold of Renato Veiga but they are not in a position to match the Portuguese international’s asking price.
It has been claimed that the Blues want around €50m (£42m) for Veiga and Il Bianconero say that a solution for getting around the very “high demands” is to offer Luiz in exchange – a proposal they describe as “a win-win deal” for both parties. The Brazilian has found life tough since leaving Villa Park last summer and Juve are believed to be open to letting him go just a year after paying €50m.
Do Chelsea need a player like Luiz?
The former Manchester City midfielder built a good reputation in English football to the extent that Arsenal tried and failed with three separate bids to buy him a few years ago.
At 27 years of age, Luiz would also add some much-needed experience to Enzo Maresca’s squad, but there would be concerns that he could block the path of other players.
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Santos’s future could be key
The need for a player like Luiz may hinge on what happens with Andrey Santos when he returns from his loan spell at Strasbourg.
Some believe that the 21-year-old will become part of Chelsea’s first team setup but others have suggested that he could be offloaded, with the likes of Arsenal and Barcelona circling.
Santos has had a great season with Strasbourg so there is good argument for keeping him and seeing whether he can cut it in the Premier League. He possesses far greater potential than someone like Luiz, who has not had the best year in Italy. It is a situation to keep a close eye on over the coming weeks.
Find out who is in Chelsea’s first-team squad for the 2024/2025 season here