Aston Villa boss Unai Emery breaks silence on Douglas Luiz transfer speculation
Aston Villa sold Douglas Luiz to Juventus at the end of June to comply with the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR)
Unai Emery has brushed away suggestions that Aston Villa could look to bring Douglas Luiz back to the club after his difficult start to life at Juventus.
The Brazilian midfielder joined the Italian giants in a deal worth £42m at the end of June as Villa raised funds to comply with the PSR. If Villa hadn't sold Luiz, they expected to receive a big point deduction.
Juve will play Villa in the Champions League on Wednesday night, but the Old Lady will be without Luiz due to injury. He has missed the club's last seven matches in all competitions and had only start two Serie A matches before then, which has led to reports linking Villa with Luiz ahead of a possible return in January.
READ | Douglas Luiz Aston Villa return decision confirmed as Juventus release update
READ | Monchi can complete intriguing £8.4m transfer as Aston Villa blueprint becomes clear
In his pre-match press conference, Emery was asked if Villa would look to bring him back to the club. Looking puzzled, Emery then responded: "I don’t understand really the question, he must be happy there.
"He must get the challenge there with his quality and to help them to get their objective collectively. I am not thinking really about him wanting to leave from there, but I don’t know. I think he is now injured."
Villa planned in advance for Luiz's exit, signing Youri Tielemans on a free transfer last year. Ross Barkley then joined the club for a minimal fee from Luton Town at the start of July, following Luiz's switch to Turin.
Juventus only have 14 outfield players in their travelling squad to face Villa, while Weston McKennie and Dusan Vlahovic are also sidelined.