Kevin Campbell says Douglas Luiz could be axed by Gerrard

Douglas Luiz has been linked with an exit from Aston Villa this summer after a disappointing campaign and Kevin Campbell believes Steven Gerrard won’t care where he goes so long as he can find a suitor.

The 24-year-old made 35 appearances in all competitions this season, scoring two goals with three assists, but he struggled in a makeshift defensive-midfield role and has seen Gerrard address the problem in the transfer market – Boubacar Kamara on a free transfer from Olympique Marseille.

Luiz’s contract is up in 2023 and he isn’t close to putting pen to paper on an extension, so Villa have no choice but to cash in now rather than lose him for nothing next year.

There has been interest from abroad for Luiz, but Kevin Campbell believes Gerrard doesn’t mind where he has to sell the Brazilian international, even if it’s to a divisional rival.

He told Football Insider: “He is one of these players that Gerrard may be looking at when he tries to refurbish this squad. If Villa are looking at him and thinking that Luiz is someone they want to move him on – it doesn’t matter who they sell him to.

“It has to happen because Gerrard obviously has someone in mind who he wants to bring in. You can talk about selling to a rival team, but everyone is a rival in the Premier League. Unless you’re looking at selling to the top two or three clubs – everyone is a direct rival.”

Luiz joined the Claret and Blues on a four-year deal from Manchester City and has gone on to make 111 appearances in all competitions, scoring five goals with eight assists. The 24-year-old won’t commit his future beyond 2023, however, so he may have played his final game for Villa.

In other news, Aston Villa should go all out for Conor Gallagher this summer