Barcelona are reportedly interested in signing Brazilian international Douglas Luiz and will offer Aston Villa a swap deal.
According to a report from Calciomercatoweb, Barcelona want to secure the services of Douglas Luiz. The Catalan giants are willing to offer Aston Villa some cash along with Franck Kessie for the Brazilian international.
Douglas Luiz was linked with a move away from Aston Villa during the summer transfer window as well, with Arsenal pushing for his signature. But the West Midlands club managed to hold on to the Brazilian international.
Apparently, the likes of AC Milan and Juventus have been keeping tabs on the player. The Gunners also continue to show interest in Luiz. But the 24-year-old has emerged on the radar of Catalan giants Barcelona.
The opportunity to join a club like Barcelona would be a tempting proposition for the Brazilian midfielder. And he is likely to angle for a move if the Catalan giants come forward with a concrete offer, despite signing a new contract not too long ago.
Barcelona signed Kessie from AC Milan during the summer transfer window. But the move has not worked out so far. The physically-imposing midfielder has struggled to make his mark in Spain, and Barcelona are reportedly ready to let go of him already.
The 25-year-old has started just twice in La Liga this season and thrice in the UEFA Champions League. Kessie needs to play more often at this stage of his career and a move away from Barcelona would be ideal for the out-of-favour midfielder.
Kessie has the physical attributes to thrive in the Premier League, and Unai Emery could help him rediscover his form and confidence at Villa Park. Recent reports have linked Aston Villa with the Ivory Coast international.
The 25-year-old was a formidable player for Milan and was regarded as one of the best midfielders in Italy. The talent is clearly there, and a fresh start could help him get his career back on track once again.
It remains to be seen whether Aston Villa are willing to let Luiz leave in exchange for some cash and Kessie now. Luiz is already settled in the Premier League, and although Kessie is a quality player, the out-of-favour Barcelona midfielder might need some time to adapt to English football. The move could prove to be a risky gamble in the short term for Emery and Villa.
