With West Ham United still stinging from that Sunderland debacle, there are plenty of supporters who would welcome former Aston Villa ace Douglas Luiz back to the Premier League with open arms.
And back to the Premier League he comes. Just not with West Ham United.
And with around a fortnight left before the window closes, time is really not on Graham Potter’s side anymore.
Hammers icon Tony Cottee saw Potter’s ‘biggest problem’ brutally exposed by a young, dynamic Sunderland side at the Stadium of Light.
While Granit Xhaka, Noah Sadiki and Habib Diarra dominated proceedings, Guido Rodriguez was left chasing shadows and James Ward-Prowse produced an ‘abysmal’ display at the heart of a West Ham midfield devoid of any intensity or ambition.
Speaking of ambition, a lack of big moves in the transfer market is another cause for consternation at the London Stadium.
Now, as Fabrizio Romano all-but confirms Douglas Luiz’s eventual destination, another high-quality midfielder can be scrubbed off a shortlist growing shorter by the day.
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Fabrizio Romano says West Ham United-linked Douglas Luiz is joining Nottingham Forest
While the Daily Mail reported that West Ham would struggle to afford Harvey Elliott or Mateus Fernandes – Southampton rejected an opening bid of £30 million last week as they hold out for nearly twice as much – Douglas Luiz’s wages were the problem rather than his price-tag.
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The Brazil international earns an alleged £140,000-a-week at Juventus.
Deep-pocketed Nottingham Forest do not appear to have such concerns though. Because, according to Tuttosport and backed up by Romano, Forest are closing in on a loan-to-buy deal which could see Douglas Luiz become a permanent member of Nuno Espirito Santo’s squad for around £25 million later down the line.
🚨🌳 Nottingham Forest and Douglas Luiz, deal almost done! Final details being sorted and then… here we go.
Douglas only wants #NFFC and the two clubs are finalising small details ahead of green light to travel for medical.
Almost there. 🔜🇧🇷 pic.twitter.com/KjGSXCBxyp
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 19, 2025
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That, by the way, is half the fee Southampton want for Mateus Fernandes.
While the Sporting Lisbon graduate did have his moments in the top-flight – Fernandes excelled when West Ham slipped up at home to the Saints in April, for instance – he possesses only a shred of Douglas Luiz’s Premier League pedigree.
As former Aston Villa captain Gabby Agbonlahor put it, Douglas Luiz would be an ‘outstanding’ West Ham addition, bringing the intensity, technical qualities and goal threat so badly lacking in Potter’s current roster.
Tony Cottee wants midfield signings as Nottingham Forest flex their financial muscles
Just days after Nottingham Forest signed James McAtee and Omari Hutchinson from Manchester City and Ipswich Town respectively – two more players reportedly in West Ham’s thoughts – the gap between Nuno’s side and Potter’s feels at risk of becoming a chasm.
“The biggest problem at West Ham at the moment is there are no legs in midfield,” Cottee tells talkSPORT, holding out hope that Liverpool benchwarmer Harvey Elliott could still join before deadline day even if RB Leipzig have moved into pole position.
“Rodriguez, I don’t see what he brings to the table. Ward-Prowse is a good footballer but there’s no athleticism or pace there. No one who can get up and down.
“Of course we miss Declan Rice! Dec would be perfect in there now but he’s gone! They’ve got to try and replace him. They need to get someone who can get about in midfield.”
“[Edson] Alvarez, not an athletic player, [Tomas] Soucek not an athletic player. There is no one to come on and give you a bit of variation. West Ham have to go out and get one or two midfield players.”