Juventus are hoping that Aston Villa can qualify for the Champions League this season, so they can sell Douglas Luiz permanently.
That’s according to Tuttosport. The Italian newspaper cover the Brazilian midfielder’s situation today and Juventus’ hopes.
Luiz returned to Aston Villa at the end of the January transfer window. He had been on loan at Nottingham Forest but found himself out of favour under successive managers.
He was eventually sent back to Juventus, where he was also not in the plans. The Italian side instead wrapped up a deal with Aston Villa for the 27-year-old to return to Villa Park.
That loan deal includes an option for the Villans to make it permanent. Unai Emery’s side will have to pay €28.5m to do so. Sport Witness have covered various reports on that matter, including one earlier this week stating there was confidence it would happen.
Why Aston Villa form is key
Tuttosport now pick up on that. According to their information, Juventus are watching Aston Villa’s form closely.
Luiz is currently helping them to push for a top four finish. They currently sit third on 51 points, three points ahead of Manchester United in fourth. They’re five behind Manchester City in second.
Juventus are ‘clearly hoping’ that happens. Their logic is a simple one. If Aston Villa qualify for the Champions League, they ‘could be persuaded’ to buy Douglas Luiz permanently for €25m.
€3.5m bonus on the cards
There could even be an addition €3.5m bonus on the cards for them if the midfielder continues to be a key player under Emery.
Both would provide a timely boos to Juventus’ coffers, particularly as Luiz is no longer part of the club’s plans long term.
Indeed, Juventus only see the midfielder as a risk of becoming a further liability. They want to avoid having him long-term and paying more money than is required.
Aston Villa would, preferably, sign him in the summer and stop that happening. Qualifying for the Champions League would make that more likely.