---
title: "Aston Villa: Gregg Evans makes Douglas Luiz claim"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/aston-villa-gregg-evans-makes-douglas-luiz-claim/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Charlie Smith"
section: "Aston Villa"
published: "2021-10-01T06:15:03Z"
modified: "2021-10-01T06:15:03Z"
---

# Aston Villa: Gregg Evans makes Douglas Luiz claim

**Aston Villa were open to selling midfielder Douglas Luiz over the summer, according to [The Athletic](https://theathletic.co.uk/2854213/2021/09/28/how-villas-formation-change-could-lead-to-smiths-dream-full-back-to-full-back-goal/)’s Gregg Evans.**

### The Lowdown: Luiz links

Villa made a [number](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/aston-villa/transfers/verein/405) of big-money signings over the summer but failed to add to their central midfield ranks. They also sold Jack Grealish to Manchester City for [£100m](https://www.goal.com/en/news/man-city-sign-grealish-in-100m-british-record-deal/18db1cfy3v1o614d1repg322wb), and it appears as if Luiz was also regarded as a possible departure by the Villa hierarchy.

He [won](https://www.avfc.co.uk/news/2021/august/Luiz-celebrates-Olympics-gold/) Olympic gold with Brazil over the summer and was linked with moves to [Manchester City](https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/douglas-luiz-man-city-transfer-20444476) and [AS Roma](https://sportwitness.co.uk/club-interested-late-deal-aston-villa-star-difficult-operation-villans-ask-around-e30m/), but as we now know, the [£52,000-a-week](https://salarysport.com/football/player/douglas-luiz/) man remained in the Midlands and has been a [regular](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/douglas-luiz/leistungsdaten/spieler/447661) in recent weeks.

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### The Latest: Evans’ claim

Evans shared a story on [The Athletic](https://theathletic.co.uk/2854213/2021/09/28/how-villas-formation-change-could-lead-to-smiths-dream-full-back-to-full-back-goal/) on Wednesday, looking at Villa’s new 3-5-2 formation. He suggested that the club were open to moving Luiz on in the recent window for the right price, but there wasn’t enough interest.

Evans then added that Dean Smith welcomed the Brazilian back to Bodymoor Heath with a presentation to celebrate his success at the Olympics along with the Villa squad.

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### The Verdict: A close shave

As Evans mentioned later [in the article](https://theathletic.co.uk/2854213/2021/09/28/how-villas-formation-change-could-lead-to-smiths-dream-full-back-to-full-back-goal/), Luiz has been an unsung hero in Villa’s wins over Everton and Manchester United, so Villa have been lucky to keep him at the club.

A midfield three of him, John McGinn and Jacob Ramsey has worked effectively in Smith’s new system, and with Villa’s [lack of depth](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/aston-villa/kader/verein/405) in midfield, parting ways with the 23-year-old could have been a costly mistake.

Roma are still [linked](https://www.teamtalk.com/news/aston-villa-douglas-luiz-tipped-transfer-mourinho-roma) with Luiz, so it’ll be interesting to see what Villa’s stance is in the New Year.

***In other news: [‘Believe it or not’ – Preece shares worrying under-the-radar update on Villa ace who Smith loves.](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/aston-villa-news/aston-villa-louie-barry-absence-explained/)***