MANCHESTER CITY are reportedly set to activate their £25million buy-back clause on Aston Villa’s Douglas Luiz.
The Citizens sold Luiz to Villa for £15m last year – but inserted the buy-back clause into the deal which took the defensive midfielder to the Midlands.
Aston Villa’s Douglas Luiz could return to Manchester CityCredit: Getty Images – Getty
And now the Daily Star reports Pep Guardiola’s side are preparing to activate the clause as part of a £100m double swoop on Dean Smith’s side.
The 22-year-old’s impressive form for this season’s surprise package Villa is thought to have impressed City.
He has started every Premier League game, providing one assist in seven appearances.
Brazilian Luiz is available for a fixed price and City may re-sign their old charge rather than risk paying an inflated fee for another target.
And the former Prem champs are reportedly lining up a move for £70m-rated Jack Grealish to help them wrestle back their crown from Liverpool.
Grealish has bagged five goals and six assists and earned international recognition from England boss Gareth Southgate – whose secret Covid-19 battle SunSport exclusively revealed.
Villa have won five out of seven league games so far this campaign – including a 7-2 demolition of City’s rivals Liverpool.
Last year’s relegation escape artists sit sixth, just three points off leaders Leicester but crucially with a game in hand.
Man City’s owners have added a tenth club to their stable after buying Troyes
Grealish penned a five-year deal at Villa in the summer and is likely to be difficult to prise away from his boyhood club.
It is unlikely the skipper will entertain a move in January as he aims to nail down a spot in Southgate’s Three Lions Euro 2020 squad.
Luiz started for Brazil in their 1-0 win over Venezuela in World Cup Qualifying on Saturday as Liverpool’s Roberto Firmino scored the winner.
Aston Villa’s Douglas Luiz shows off his skills in team training
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
