Serie A club given 'green light' to move for 'clever' Aston Villa star; he's reportedly unhappy

According to a report from AS Roma Live (via Sport Witness), the Serie A club remain interested in Aston Villa midfielder Douglas Luiz. 

The 23-year-old has previously been indexed with a move to Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United (Birmingham Mail).

Despite the speculation, the former Manchester City academy starlet has remained a regular feature for the Villans this season, making 27 appearances across all competitions.

A fresh report from Italy has claimed that there is strong interest on the Brazilian from further afield…

As per the report from AS Roma Live, as translated by Sport Witness, Roma’s admiration for Luiz has ‘never completely disappeared’.

It is stated that the five-cap Brazil international is ‘not the happiest’ at Villa Park, having not been rewarded with a new contract.

Indeed, recent comments from Gerrard confirming that talks over a new deal for the Brazilian aren’t forthcoming are believed to have been viewed as a ‘green light’ by Roma.

Valued at £31.5m and into the final 18 months of a contract in the Midlands (Transfermarkt), the club would certainly be best served to tie down the midfield general to fresh terms sooner rather than later.

Described as a ‘clever’ operator on the ball by Pep Guardiola, Luiz has formed an impressive partnership alongside John McGinn whilst completing 86% of his passes this season, earning an overall performance rating of 6.93 from Sofascore.

Given the levels of interest in Luiz’s services, without a new deal it’s difficult to envisage a summer without strong renewed interest; and as things stand, Villa may be forced to cash in on the Brazilian, perhaps even to a Premier League rival.

In other news: Source claims Aston Villa outcast will move on this summer.