Aston Villa midfielder Douglas Luiz is eager to leave the club amidst interest from AS Roma, according to reports.
The Brazil international signed for the Villans for around £15million from Manchester City in 2019 and has made over 80 appearances for the Midlands club.
His contract expires in 2023 and was initially linked with a move to Roma last summer. Man City also hold a buy-back clause should they wish to exercise it.
Why would PSG let Pochettino go to Man Utd?
The Serie A outfit were chasing a new midfielder in the summer transfer window, most notably being linked with Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka.
Their search is still on, with Luiz topping Jose Mourinho’s shortlist, according to Il Romanista (via Sport Witness).
However, Aston Villa are reportedly demanding a ‘not very negotiable’ €35m fee for the Brazilian defensive midfielder.
The report adds that Luiz interests the Italian club ‘quite a lot’ and that the 23-year-old ‘wants to leave’ the Premier League side.
Luiz’s representatives are ready to push for the midfielder’s sale. Whether it will come in January or at the end of the season remains to be seen, however.
Meanwhile, Steven Gerrard admitted to feeling a mixture of pride and relief after two late goals got his managerial reign at Aston Villa off to a winning start.
Gerrard celebrated exuberantly when Ollie Watkins broke the deadlock after 84 minutes to put Villa in front against Brighton.
And the former Liverpool midfielder was jumping around his technical area again two minutes from time when Tyrone Mings lashed in another goal to seal a 2-0 victory.
Gerrard, who left Rangers during the international break to replace Dean Smith at Villa Park, said: “I was feeling a combination of things. It was a mixture of excitement, relief and pride. I cannot be any more proud of the players. This was a big week, a big game for the team on the back of losing five.
“Some people were only around for a couple of days in the week. Everything we have asked them to do, in the main, they have followed instruction and delivered a really good performance in the end. I couldn’t be more proud.”
The post Aston Villa star ‘wants to leave’ amidst Roma interest appeared first on Football365.