Aston Villa Target Seeming To Prefer Chelsea: Why Emery Needs To Get The Player In?

Recent claims from Italian outlet Tuttosport suggest Aston Villa face a significant blow in their chase of former fan-favourite Douglas Luiz. The Turin-based publication reports that the Villans are actively seeking to re-sign the Brazilian holding midfielder during this winter transfer window.

Tuttosport reports the midfielder favours a London Switch Over Midlands Return

However, the player’s preference leans heavily towards a temporary switch to Stamford Bridge. Unai Emery faces a sudden crisis in his engine room. He reportedly urged the club hierarchy to bring the 27-year-old back to Villa Park. Emery views him as the ideal solution to steady the ship. However, the report explicitly states that Luiz is ready to join Chelsea in the coming days. A loan move to the Blues looks increasingly likely.

Tuttosport indicates that the South American covets the opportunity to represent the West Londoners. This is despite Villa’s concrete interest and emotional pull. Juventus, his parent club, appear willing to sanction another loan. His current spell at Nottingham Forest failed to get the desired results.

Villa hoped to capitalise on this uncertainty. However, the player’s personal ambition seems to have scuppered their plans. The Italian newspaper outlines that negotiations with Chelsea are advancing. This leaves Villa’s recruitment team scrambling for alternatives as the deadline looms.

Why Emery Demands a Reunion and the Likely Outcome?

NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 01: Douglas Luiz of Forest during the Premier League match between Nottingham Forest and Manchester United at City Ground on November 01, 2025 in Nottingham, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

Unai Emery’s desperation to secure Douglas Luiz stems directly from Boubacar Kamara’s injury. The French international suffered a catastrophic season-ending knee injury earlier this month. His absence leaves a gaping void at the base of Villa’s midfield. This position demands tactical discipline and precise ball distribution.

Emery knows Luiz fits this profile perfectly. The Brazilian midfielder requires zero adaptation time. He possesses an intimate understanding of Emery’s tactical demands from their previous tenure. Luiz could slot straight into the starting XI for the upcoming Premier League clash against Brentford. He offers immediate stability where Ross Barkley or Youri Tielemans might lack defensive grit.

Re-signing Luiz would represent a pragmatic masterstroke for Villa. He offers proven Premier League quality. He also retains a strong connection with the Holte End. However, the realistic outlook appears grim for the Midlands club. Villa stand little chance of swaying him if Tuttosport’s assertions about his preference for Chelsea hold true.

Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior also desperately needs cover. This follows injuries to Romeo Lavia and Dario Essugo. The allure of London often proves decisive in such tug-of-war battles. Douglas Luiz will likely don Chelsea blue by February unless Villa can pull a late financial lever or appeal to his sentimentality. This would force Emery to look elsewhere to salvage his midfield.