Gerrard must boldly axe "outstanding" £52k-p/w AVFC gem, he could leave for nothing - opinion

Aston Villa could be set for another busy transfer window as manager Steven Gerrard aims to put his stamp on the team by moving on the players he doesn’t want.

With Morgan Sanson expected to leave the Midlands after a terrible spell at the club since signing in January 2020 from Marseille for just over £14m, the club will likely be looking to replace him.

Villa might also be forced into replacing Douglas Luiz, who could be sold in the summer to raise funds for other potential transfers according to Birmingham Mail, ending his three-year stay at the club after signing from Manchester City for just over £15m.

With the £52k-per-week midfielder’s contract set to expire in just over 12 months at the end of next season, the club could look to cash in on the Brazilian, who is wanted by Arsenal, Newcastle and Tottenham.

The 23-year-old has been in solid form this season, averaging a 7.04 match rating over the last five games according to SofaScore, and a 6.95 across the entire Premier League season.

Earlier in the month, former fan favourite and homegrown star Gabby Agbonlahor praised the five-time Brazil international in an interview with Football Insider for his recent performances.

He said: “Douglas Luiz has been very good. He’s flying forward and getting into the box. He’s been outstanding and transformed.”

Valued at £31.5m by Transfermarkt, the midfielder could still command a hefty transfer fee this summer, and if Villa fail to agree a new deal with him before the end of the season, they would have just 12 months to sort his future out before he is free to negotiate with new clubs for absolutely nothing.

With the likes of Carney Chukwuemeka, who made Goal’s 2022 NXGN list, ready to step in and become a first-team regular,