Douglas Luiz has settled back into Villa Park incredibly fast. He returned to Aston Villa on loan from Juventus in January. Sport Witness points to reports from Calciomercato IT which is claiming that the Villans can buy him for €25m at the end of the season.
Unai Emery didn’t wait at all to put the 27-year-old back to work. Luiz has started every Premier League game since he arrived. The team need him right away because they have a midfield shortage. Now, new reports suggest both sides are already working on a permanent fix. Juventus expect Andrea Cambiaso to leave this summer. They want Aston Villa’s Ian Maatsen as their top choice to take over that spot (according to Calciomercato).
The situation is one of those rare moments where a swap just makes sense for everyone. Injuries to Boubacar Kamara, John McGinn, and Youri Tielemans have left Unai Emery’s midfield thin. So, Luiz hasn’t needed time to get used to the league again. He stepped right back into the role he held for five years. He has looked solid and provided the team with some much-needed cover.
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 11: Ian Maatsen of Aston Villa is challenged by Diego Gomez of Brighton & Hove Albion during the Premier League match between Aston Villa and Brighton & Hove Albion at Villa Park on February 11, 2026 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
On the other hand, Ian Maatsen’s spot isn’t as solid. The 23-year-old Dutchman has played over 960 minutes in the Premier League this season. Even so, reports indicate he isn’t happy with how he’s being used. Emery often starts Lucas Digne or swaps players around. This leaves Maatsen on the sidelines. Juventus might see the Dutch international as the perfect replacement for Cambiaso. If they do, Villa could use that interest to get what they want.
The prices match up almost perfectly. Villa can buy Luiz for €25m. Maatsen is worth about the same. Swapping an unhappy squad player for a proven starter in midfield fixes two issues at once. Maatsen gets a fresh start in Italy.
Meanwhile, Aston Villa get Luiz for a bargain. The price is much lower than the £43m they received when they sold him 18 months ago. Since the team are struggling with injuries and Luiz fits in so well, making this trade permanent is a no brainer move for the club.