Manchester City are reportedly considering a loan move for a highly-rated midfielder just six months into his tenure at his new club.
City have been struggling lately, winning only twice in their last 14 matches across all competitions. Currently sitting sixth in the Premier League after 19 games, they are 14 points behind league leaders Liverpool, who have played one less match.
A key factor in City’s poor form has been the absence of Ballon d’Or winner Rodri. The Spanish midfielder suffered an ACL injury during a 2-2 draw with Arsenal in September and has been sidelined since. Mateo Kovacic, Rico Lewis, and Matheus Nunes have stepped in, but replacing one of the best in his position has proven difficult.
The January transfer window offers an opportunity for Pep Guardiola to reassess his options and potentially bring in new players. Martin Zubimendi and Bruno Guimarães have been mentioned as possible targets, but another midfielder is reportedly on City’s radar.
According to Birmingham Live, City are “considering a loan move” for former Aston Villa player Douglas Luiz. Luiz, 26, joined Juventus in June for £42.35m but has struggled to make an impact, playing only nine Serie A matches without contributing a goal or assist.
Having signed a five-year contract with Juventus, Luiz’s girlfriend Alisha Lehmann also moved to Italy in a ‘couples transfer.’ In November, Gazzetta reported that Juventus would be open to letting Luiz leave in January for the right offer.
A move to City could benefit both sides, providing a short-term solution for Rodri’s absence while giving Luiz a chance to regain his form in the Premier League, a league he’s familiar with. It’s unclear whether Juventus would be willing to reduce their wage contributions in the deal.
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