Arsenal and Aston Villa are both interested in signing Douglas Luiz during the January transfer window, with Liverpool also reportedly keen on the Brazilian midfielder. However, Aston Villa are in no hurry to let go of their prized asset, who has been performing well this season. If Luiz does leave, Villa will need a replacement and there are three potential candidates who could fill his shoes: Mandela Keita, Matt O’Riley, and Boubacar Kamara. Keita is a 21-year-old defensive midfielder who currently plays for Royal Antwerp in the Belgian Pro League, while O’Riley is a 23-year-old all-rounder who plays for Celtic. Kamara is a 21-year-old midfielder who currently plays for Marseille.
According to a recent report from Ben Jacobs via GiveMeSport, Emile Smith Rowe may be leaving Arsenal as Aston Villa has shown interest in him. While Smith Rowe is primarily an attacking player, he could potentially replace Luiz in the team. However, he may not be a direct swap in the starting lineup, but could take on the inverted winger role of McGinn, with the Scot then filling in alongside Kamara. Smith Rowe has had a difficult time with injuries since 2018, missing a significant number of games. Nonetheless, his impressive ten-goal 2021/22 Premier League campaign shows that he has the ability to perform against top-tier teams. All he needs is game time and the trust of a manager to revive his career, which Villa and Emery could provide. Tom, a passionate Manchester United fan, has extensive knowledge of football across Europe and enjoys analyzing the game. He has been writing Premier League content for over a year, covering a range of topics from previews to opinion pieces.
