Latest Nottingham Forest transfer news as January window departure from Sean Dyche's Reds squad a possibility
09:28, 27 Jan 2026
Nottingham Forest midfielder Douglas Luiz
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Nottingham Forest midfielder Douglas Luiz(Image: PA)
Midfielder Douglas Luiz is wanted by Aston Villa amid doubts about his future at Nottingham Forest with less than a week of the transfer window remaining.
The Brazilian joined the Reds on a season-long loan from Juventus in the summer but hasn’t quite made the impact it was hoped he would do Trentside. His spell at the City Ground could be cut short this month, with a return to his former club a possibility.
Luiz’s Forest deal includes a conditional obligation to buy which is understood to be appearance based. If he makes 15 league appearances of 45 minutes or more, it would trigger the reported £22 million obligation clause.
With the Reds seemingly unlikely to activate the clause, Chelsea have been credited with an interest in the 27-year-old. However, heading back to Villa Park - where he made 175 league appearances in a five-year spell before leaving for Italy - is a possibility for Luiz.
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Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano said on X: “Aston Villa back in active talks for Douglas Luiz after initial approach revealed last week. Negotiations ongoing with Juventus while Chelsea are also exploring different options in midfield. #AVFC working on Douglas Luiz return as priority with 2 more options on list.”
Luiz was not in Forest’s match squad for their 2-0 victory at Brentford on Sunday. He had started last week’s 1-0 Europa League defeat away to Braga, but head coach Sean Dyche said illness ruled him out of the trip to the capital.
"He's ill. He's got what's going around - the flu sort of situation,” Dyche said after his team’s win at the Gtech Community Stadium.
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"He came in and spoke to the doctor. We said we had to get him out of the camp because we had such a long injury list when we got here and we don't want illness to creep in as well.
"When you are travelling on planes and all the rest of it, it spreads like wildfire. Hopefully he will recover quickly.”
Asked if he expects Luiz to still be part of the squad going forward, Dyche said: "We'll see.”
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