Manchester City’s squad reshuffle in January could lead to a loan deal move Reportedly for former midfielder Douglas Luiz.
The Premier League champions were at their best in Sunday’s 6-0 win over Ipswich Town, suggesting their recent problems may be a thing of the past.
City have moved back into the top four thanks to this win, with qualification for next season’s Champions League now seen as a priority target as Liverpool move 12 points clear at the top of the table with a game remaining.
Injuries to several key players have disrupted City’s season and led to the club’s worst ever results under Guardiola. The biggest absence has been in central midfield, where Ballon d’Or winner Rodri has been missing since tearing his cruciate ligament in September – an injury that will keep the Spaniard out for the remainder of the 2024/25 season.
The athlete report that City are considering strengthening their squad with a January signing, possibly in the direction of Luiz, who spent two years at the Etihad Stadium before moving to Aston Villa in 2019.
The Brazilian quickly emerged as one of Villa’s most important players, making 175 Premier League appearances over five seasons. With his move to Juventus last summer, he apparently took the next step in his career. But his move to Turin, which came about because Villa had to comply with the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules, didn’t work out.
Luiz could leave Juventus on loan, although whether or not that includes a purchase obligation could get complicated. City would reportedly prefer a direct loan deal, while Juventus would like to guarantee a future sale.
City have committed to strengthening Guardiola’s squad in January and are close to completing three big-money signings. Defensive duo Abdukodir Khusanov and Vitor Reis are expected to move from Lens and Palmeiras respectively, while a nearly £70m deal is nearing completion for Eintracht Frankfurt striker Omar Marmoush, who has scored 15 goals in the Bundesliga this season .