Villa can repeat transfer trick to land Douglas Luiz replacement

Christian Purslow made the bold decision to reject Arsenal’s third and final bid of £25 milllion for Douglas Luiz on transfer deadline day. The Brazilian is yet to sign a new deal at Villa Park and can walk out on the club for nothing next summer.

In January, the 24-year-old is free to sign a pre-contract agreement with another club ahead of signing permanently elsewhere on much-improved terms on July 1, 2023. Given Douglas’s precarious contract situation then it’s imperative Purslow, sporting director Johan Lange and head coach Steven Gerrard sound out a potential replacement should the South American opt to leave. BirminghamLive has been informed that Arsenal still hold an interest in Douglas, as do Liverpool, Atletico Madrid and AC Milan.

A route Villa could go down is the tactic they used to lure Boubacar Kamara to Villa Park. The Frenchman was entering the final few weeks of his Marseille contract when Villa pounced and signed the 22-year-old for free just a day after last season had finished. Gerrard, Purslow and Lange jetted out to watch Kamara in action a month before striking that very deal, with all three spending time at Kamara’s family home in the south of France. Villa, to their credit, got the deal done amid strong interest from Champions League clubs including Atleti.

Looking ahead to next summer and those that find themselves in Kamara’s previous situation, here’s a list of players Villa could well target as a potential replacement for the soon to be out-of-contract Douglas Luiz…

Youri Tielemans, Leicester City: Given the Foxes’ problems this season, a player that would instantly excite Villa supporters is Belgian superstar Youri Tielemans. The 25-year-old has been a revelation since his £40m transfer from Monaco three years ago. Like Douglas, Tielemans has continued to drag his heels over a new deal and is able to negotiate a way out of the King Power Stadium in January ahead of a free transfer next summer. Villa will, though, face stiff competition for Tielemans should they wish to act but the Kamara deal proved they can mix it with the best of them when it comes to selling the club and offering huge personal terms.

Thomas Lemar, Atletico Madrid: To Tielemans’ former Monaco teammate here and Thomas Lemar is available for free next summer. The French international is well-known to both Lucas Digne and Kamara and a fresh start could be what’s needed to ignite his career. Lemar, who cost Atleti a whopping £65m, has started three of his side’s six fixtures this season.

Konrad Laimer, RB Leipzig (below): From Lemar to Konrad Laimer of RB Leipzig, a player who is on the radar of both Bayern Munich and Liverpool. The 25-year-old is a bruising defensive midfielder who’ll instantly improve a club like Aston Villa.

Konrad Laimer controls the ball during the Bundesliga match between RB Leipzig and Borussia Dortmund

Houssem Aouar, Olympique Lyonnais: The classy French ball-player has drastically fallen out of favour at Lyon, a place where he’s played 216 times scoring 40 and assisting 35 despite still being just 24. Aouar desperately needs a move and Villa could be a brilliant switch next summer.

Daichi Kamada, Eintracht Frankfurt: The Japanese international is more of an attacking midfielder or second-striker but his talent is clear. Kamada, 26, helped Frankfurt to Europa League success last season while, this term, he’s started like a house on fire with three goals and two assists from just five Bundesliga matches. Kamada’s stock is rising all of the time and there will be a lengthy queue of suitors to take him given his current deal expires on June 30, 2023.

Hugo Guillamon, Valencia CF: Arguably one of the hottest prospects in Spain right now with 22-year-old Hugo Guillamon free to speak with clubs from January 1 onwards. The defensive midfielder, who can also operate at centre-back, made his Spain debut in June 2021 having starred for their youth sides. Guillamon has started all five of cash-strapped Valencia’s La Liga games this season, operating in a two-man pivot at the base of midfield alongside fellow youngster Nico Gonzalez.

Mathias Jensen, Brentford: The Denmark international has been a massive success story ever since joining Thomas Frank’s Bees in the summer of 2019. Jensen, 26, is a mainstay in Frank’s impressive side and was star man in their 4-0 hammering against Manchester United last month. Brentford fans love him.

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