Despite a remarkable campaign to date, which sees Aston Villa currently just a handful of points off the Premier League summit, Unai Emery will no doubt have some concerns over his squad.
Attacker Donyell Malen has been allowed to depart on a permanent basis to join Italian side AS Roma, which could leave his side short of numbers in the final third.
However, a deal to re-sign Tammy Abraham on a permanent deal looks to be edging ever closer, after a £18m deal for his services was agreed on Friday afternoon.
tammy-abraham-besiktas
The midfield department has also become somewhat depleted in recent days, after it was confirmed that Boubacar Kamara is expected to miss the remainder of the season with a knee injury.
As a result, the Spaniard will no doubt want added reinforcements in such an area before the window closes, which has led to numerous options already being touted.
Aston Villa want move to land £69m sensation
In a remarkable turn of events, Villa have been just one of numerous Premier League clubs linked with a surprise move to former midfielder Douglas Luiz this month.
It was reported on Thursday that the Villans were battling Chelsea for the signature of the Brazilian international, who is currently spending the season on loan at Nottingham Forest.
douglas-luiz-forest
However, it’s now been confirmed that despite the rumours, Emery’s side are no longer considering a move and have decided to target alternative options.
One of the players they appear to be seeking to land in the near future is Eintracht Frankfurt star Can Uzun, but they certainly aren’t alone in that regard.
According to Sports Boom, the Villans are considering a move for the Turkish international, who has already registered 12 combined goals and assists in 20 appearances this season.
The report also states that fellow Premier League side Newcastle United are also firmly in the race to land the 20-year-old sensation before the window closes on February 2nd.
can-uzun-eintracht-frankfurt
However, any deal would likely cost any interested party a small fortune this month, with the German side demanding a fee in the region of €80m (£69m) as per the report - eclipsing Villa's current record purchase of Moussa Diaby.
Why Uzun would be the perfect Luiz alternative
The reports of a return to the West Midlands for Luiz on Thursday will no doubt have generated excitement among the fanbase, after his previous spell at the club.
Douglas Luiz
The Brazilian spent five years at Villa Park between 2019 and 2024, subsequently registering over 200 appearances across all competitions and even netting 22 goals in the process.
He was often a mainstay at the heart of the side in the Premier League, with the 27-year-old undoubtedly one of the key reasons for the club’s progression in recent years.
However, he was sold to Juventus against the wishes of the club 18 months ago, with the hierarchy needing to raise funds to avoid any PSR punishment from the Premier League.
It now seems the dream return for Luiz is off the cards for the moment, which could allow one of numerous targets to make a move to Villa Park instead.
Aston Villa midfielder Douglas Luiz
As previously mentioned, Uzun is one player currently in the sights of the board, but it remains to be seen if they will fork out the reported fee for his signature.
The Turkish star is also a slightly more attacking option than the Brazilian, but there’s no denying that he would offer added depth and quality to the heart of the side.
His stats from the current campaign highlight the quality he possesses, with the 20-year-old only going to improve further with experience at the top level of European football.
Uzun, who’s been dubbed “incredible” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has already registered nine combined goals and assists in just 13 league outings.
Eintracht Frankfurt's Can Uzun in action with St. Pauli's Andreas Hountondji
Such a figure showcases his talent within the final third of the pitch, with the Frankfurt star able to add an added threat to Emery’s side - all whilst doing so from a deep-lying position.
He’s also registered 1.2 shots on target per 90 this campaign, whilst creating 1.6 chances per 90 for his teammates - further reaffirming his quality when having the ball at his feet.
Can Uzun - Bundesliga stats (2025/26)
Statistics (per 90)
Games played
Goals & assists
Shots taken
Shots on target
Pass accuracy
Chances created
Touches in 18-yard box
Tackles won
Duels won
Recoveries made
Stats via FotMob
However, despite his tender age, he’s also shown glimpses of his talent without the ball, as seen with his impressive tallies of 1.2 tackles and 4.2 duels won per 90.
All the aforementioned figures would certainly make him a superb box-to-box option for the Villans, but the sticking point in any deal would undoubtedly be the asking price.
Eintracht Frankfurt's Can Uzun scores their second goal
With Newcastle also interested in a move for Uzun’s signature, it’s crucial that Emery’s men work tirelessly to avoid missing out on his services to a divisional rival.
However, all things considered, such a move would be a worthwhile one for the immediate and long-term future, with the Turkish star having all the skills needed to emulate Luiz’s success at the club.
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