Aston Villa have looked increasingly likely to sell Douglas Luiz this summer but they could now capitalise on Premier League interest in a forgotten player to avoid the Brazilian’s departure.
Aston Villa are at risk of breaching Premier League Profit and Sustainability Regulations (PSR) and need to raise funds prior to the 30th June deadline to ensure compliance.
It is estimated that Villa need to make up a shortfall of around £58.3 million to avoid a breach and this is why it has been widely assumed Douglas Luiz would leave.
Striker Jhon Duran has been strongly linked with a £40 million move to Chelsea, with Luiz’ touted £16 million plus Weston McKennie and Samuel Iling-Junior deal the move anticipated to make up most of the rest of the money required.
However, Villa could now use interest from Premier League clubs on a player Unai Emery is unlikely to miss to keep Luiz at the club.
Premier League clubs interested in Cameron Archer
Villa sold Cameron Archer last summer, with the 22-year-old sealing an £18 million transfer to newly-promoted Sheffield United.
However, the terms of the deal stipulated that if Sheffield United were relegated then Villa would have to buy Archer back.
That is exactly how the situation played out, with the Blades finishing bottom of the Premier League with just 16 points and Archer subsequently returning to Villa Park.
This only served to add to Villa’s PSR woes given they had effectively banked the £18 million for Archer, but they could be offered a reprieve by another newly-promoted side with Southampton linked with a move for the striker.
According to talkSPORT‘s Chief Football Correspondent Alex Crook, Southampton are ‘among the clubs interested’ in Archer as they seek to add firepower ahead of their Premier League return.
Archer move could see Douglas Luiz transfer U-turn
Luiz’ transfer to Juventus is a complex one given the fact there are a number of moving parts.
Not only do the two clubs need to agree the fee – likely to be around £16 million – there are three players involved in the negotiations.
Emery would undoubtedly prefer to be able to keep Luiz at the club as he is a key component of the Villa side that secured Champions League qualification, however the Spanish coach understands the pressure to sell.
If a sale for Archer can be accelerated and completed prior to the 30th June deadline it could negate the need for Luiz to leave.
The fact that this could be done with a player not in Emery’s plans means Villa should be doing everything in their power to entice a bid from Southampton or one of the other unnamed Premier League clubs.
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