Chelsea ‘to consider’ loan for £43m Douglas Luiz as Aston Villa circle | OneFootball

Chelsea could make a surprise first January move by exploring a loan for Juventus midfielder Douglas Luiz for the remainder of the season, according to The Athletic.

Liam Rosenior has Chelsea well placed at home and in Europe after replacing Enzo Maresca. They beat Pafos 1-0 on Wednesday, with Moisés Caicedo scoring, to make it three wins in four. The Blues remain in both cups and are chasing a top four finish, which is believed to be their internal aim.

Luiz is currently on loan at Nottingham Forest, where he has made 14 appearances this season, only two of them league starts under Sean Dyche. His season-long deal includes a purchase obligation based on appearances, although whether it will be triggered is unclear. Chelsea are thought to see the 27-year-old as a good fit and could seek an agreement with Juventus to end his Forest loan.

The Brazilian joined Juventus for £43m in summer 2024 and has struggled to establish himself. Fabrizio Romano has indicated that both Chelsea and Aston Villa are considering a loan, with Forest able to let him return to Juventus before a new move.

Signing a 27-year-old mid-season would be an unusual step under BlueCo, offering limited resale value if made permanent. He could bolster depth behind Caicedo and Enzo Fernández, with Roméo Lavia and Dário Essugo injured and 21-year-old Andrey Santos the other specialist option.

Luiz’s lack of minutes in a struggling Forest side is a concern. He would be Chelsea’s third-oldest player this season, behind 28-year-olds Robert Sánchez and Tosin Adarabioyo. Villa’s rival interest adds intrigue as both seek midfield options.

Source: yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk