West Ham make ‘formal’ move to beat Nottingham Forest to £50m star
West Ham, Manchester United and Nottingham Forest are all keen on completing a loan deal for Douglas Luiz this summer, sources have told Football Insider.
Speaking on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, senior correspondent Pete O’Rourke revealed what his sources have said about Luiz‘s expected exit from the Juventus Stadium.
Luiz has been unable to replicate his Aston Villa form for the Bianconeri since his move from Villa Park last summer for around £50million, and the relationship between Juventus and the Brazilian has soured.
Football Insider has already revealed that Juventus have told Everton to pay £40m for Luiz this summer after they attempted to sign the midfielder on loan, and they’re not the only Premier League side keen.
Juventus have taken disciplinary action against Luiz this summer after he failed to report for pre-season training, but sources have told Football Insider that this hasn’t deterred several interested English clubs.
Football Insider sources have said that both Forest and Man United have joined Everton and West Ham in the race to secure a loan deal for Luiz this summer, despite Juventus’ insistence on a permanent sale.
Douglas Luiz return inevitable as Premier League clubs circle
Football Insider revealed on 15 July that Man United had officially registered their interest in Luiz to Juventus’ higher-ups, while Forest are looking to sell Ibrahim Sangare in order to sign the Brazilian.
Speaking on the new Inside Track, O’Rourke said that Luiz would be a welcome addition for all four aforementioned Premier League clubs, sparking an “open race” with Juventus happy to move him on.
“There’ll be a lot of interest in Douglas Luiz from the Premier League, especially after what he did for Aston Villa”, he told Football Insider.
“West Ham are looking at him have shown formal interest in a loan deal; Manchester United and Nottingham Forest have also been mentioned as possible contenders.
“He not going to be short of options – Luiz would be a very good signing for Everton, if they’re able to get him.
“It’s an open race, and I think there’ll be serious competition for Luiz’s signature if Juventus do decide to let him leave on loan, with an option of possibly going on a permanent.”
Man United may hold key to Douglas Luiz transfer
Former Everton CEO Keith Wyness told Football Insider that Man United could use Jadon Sancho as a makeweight to try and take the lead in the race for Luiz, but that’s yet to yield any tangible results so far.
Everton have also been tipped to struggle with their own pursuit of the Brazil midfielder, with West Ham, Forest and Man United all able to pay higher wages and to commit to that £40m permanent transfer fee.
Forest’s business has been more focused on the front end of Nuno Espirito Santo‘s team with the likes of Dan Ndoye and potentially James McAtee, but it remains to be seen if Nuno can beat his Portuguese compatriot Ruben Amorim to Luiz’s signature.