Steven Gerrard told he has 'Sergio Busquets like' midfielder in Aston Villa squad

Former Aston Villa captain Gabriel Agbonlahor has compared current midfielder Douglas Luiz to Barcelona and Spain legend Sergio Busquets.

The 23-year-old is closing in on a century of appearances in claret and blue since signing from Manchester City in July 2019 and has missed just one match under Steven Gerrard - the head coach's first against Brighton and Hove Albion.

Last month saw Luiz linked with a move away from Villa Park to North London rivals Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur, as well as nouveau riche Newcastle United.

More recently, the Brazil international has made his feelings clear about his Villa future amid the reported interest.

Agbonlahor, in discussing how Gerrard can mix things up to remedy their recent poor results, has suggested Villa "don't need" the defensive midfielder in that role with the way that they currently play.

“I actually like Douglas Luiz," Agbonlahor told Football Insider. "If he was in a team that had so much of the ball that the defensive midfielder didn’t need to defend, like Man City, who are rarely attacked, you’d see better from Douglas Luiz.

“Like Sergio Busquets, he has never been one who can go and get the ball back. He’s a defensive midfielder who starts off attacks and is very good on the ball.

“Douglas Luiz is not a defensive midfielder who goes and gets the ball back.

“With the players in the squad, we don’t need Luiz as a defensive midfielder. If Nakamba was fit, he’d be starting. You can see why Gerrard wants Bissouma, someone who can go and get the ball.

“You need one midfielder who doesn’t move; who sits, gets the ball back and is a good tackler. That’s not Douglas Luiz; he gets on the ball and starts attacks.”