Aston Villa are reportedly on the verge of securing the return of midfielder Douglas Luiz, with the Brazilian international poised to end what has been described as a disappointing loan spell at Premier League rivals Nottingham Forest.
Villa Reunion in Sight
According to widespread reports, including from Sky Sports News, Douglas Luiz is closing in on a return to Aston Villa, the club where he spent five years before departing in 2024. It is suggested that the 27-year-old has set his heart on a reunion with Villa, with claims of a verbal agreement already in place between the Midlands club and his parent club, Juventus.
The proposed deal is understood to be a loan arrangement with an option to make the transfer permanent in the summer. This move would bring Luiz back to familiar surroundings after a challenging period in Italy and an underwhelming stint at the City Ground.
A Loan Spell Falling Short of Expectations
Luiz's time at Nottingham Forest has been far from successful, with the midfielder making only five Premier League starts and having minimal impact on the team's campaign. This follows a difficult first season at Juventus, where he struggled to establish himself.
We spoke to NottinghamshireLive's Forest reporter, Sarah Clapson, to gain insight into why the loan has been so underwhelming. Clapson explained that while there was initial excitement about Luiz's arrival, given his proven Premier League quality with Villa, there was also some trepidation due to his struggles in Serie A.
"There has never been any question about his quality," Clapson noted, "it was a case of whether he could rediscover his Villa form with Forest."
Injuries and Underperformance
Clapson described Luiz's loan as disappointing, pointing to injuries that prevented him from reaching full fitness and a failure to perform at his top level consistently. She highlighted specific matches, such as the FA Cup tie against Wrexham and the Europa League fixture against Braga, where a player of his calibre was expected to dominate but did not.
"If anything, against Braga he looked pretty disinterested," Clapson observed. "He wasn't the only one to put in a dismal showing in Portugal, but given his talent Forest would have expected better."
Manager's Comments and Future Uncertainty
Forest manager Sean Dyche recently attributed Luiz's absence from the match squad against Brentford to illness. When questioned about the midfielder's future and external interest, Dyche remained coy but acknowledged Luiz's abilities.
"He is a very good player," Dyche stated. "It doesn't surprise me there is interest from other clubs in good players. That's the nature of the business."
Dyche added, "It's a double-edged sword. You sort of want people interested in your players because that means they are doing a good job and are good players, but you don't because you don't want them coming knocking on the door."
As the January transfer window progresses, all signs point towards Douglas Luiz concluding his dismal loan chapter at Nottingham Forest and embarking on a fresh start back at Aston Villa, where he will hope to recapture the form that made him a fan favourite during his previous tenure.
