Douglas Luiz: Aston Villa tipped to replace star after £35m bid update – pundit
Aston Villa could consider selling Douglas Luiz in the summer after turning down offers in January, according to Noel Whelan.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former Leeds striker insisted the Villans do not need to get rid of the 23-year-old if they do not want to.
A Villa source has told Football Insider that Villa rejected a £30million bid in January and will listen to offers around the £35m mark in the summer.
Luiz remained at Villa Park past Monday’s 11pm transfer deadline but his long-term future is up in the air.
Whelan suggested a summer move could be on the cards if the Villans want to replace him.
Whelan told Football Insider’s Russell Edge: “You’re looking at a club here that doesn’t look like they need to sell.
“They haven’t bought Steven Gerrard in as manager to go and sell players. They’ve brought him in there get players in and give them the best possible tools to go and be successful.
“With 18 months left on his contract, you can still afford to keep him until the end of the season.
“Then, maybe, they can do some business on him if need be. That gives them the opportunity to go out and get another player.
“You need those options. Right now, they’re spending money. They’re not trying to bring money into the club. They’re trying to give themselves the best opportunity to get as high up the Premier League as they can.
“That might put them in Europe and then things might change again.”
Luiz is contracted at Aston Villa until 2023.
He has played 18 times across all competitions this season.
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