Aston Villa is becoming more optimistic that their key midfielder Douglas Luiz will agree to a new extended contract.
Arsenal made several unsuccessful attempts to acquire Luiz during the transfer window in January 2023, with Gunners manager Mikel Arteta expressing his admiration for the Brazilian player.
Despite Luiz’s current contract running until 2026, Villa is positive that he will choose to stay with the club, particularly if they qualify for the Champions League next season. Luiz, who is 26 years old, has openly expressed his contentment with life at Villa Park.
It has been reported that Barcelona has shown interest in Luiz, with their sporting director Deco making multiple trips to England to watch him play live this season, including during Villa’s 1-0 victory over Arsenal in December. It is widely acknowledged that Luiz would be a valuable addition to any team in world football, but his acquisition would come at a significant cost.
Barcelona’s financial challenges have been extensively documented, as they were previously fined for breaching Financial Fair Play regulations. The club has already acknowledged an operating loss of approximately €200m, excluding any revenue deemed inadmissible under FFP.
Furthermore, Barcelona is burdened with a substantial debt, having accumulated €1.35bn in operating losses over the years. Additionally, they have already committed €1.5bn to Espai Barca, their ambitious new stadium project.
In light of their financial constraints, Barcelona has been relatively conservative in their transfer spending. They only invested €43m in transfers during the previous two transfer windows and €69m throughout the 2021/22 season, before making a significant splash with over €100m spent last season.