Aston Villa could soon be offered the chance to sign Barcelona midfielder Franck Kessie in a deal which would see Douglas Luiz head to the Nou Camp.
The Lowdown: New deal for Luiz
The Brazilian was heavily linked with a move away from Villa Park over the summer, with Arsenal reportedly making three bids for the player on transfer deadline day.
The 24-year-old has since signed a new long-term deal in the Midlands, but that hasn’t stopped rumours circling once again heading into 2023.
The Latest: Luiz for Kessie swap?
Calciomercato shared a story on Monday regarding Luiz and Barcelona. They claimed that the Spanish giants have identified the Villa midfielder as a January target and are even readying an offer for him.
The report states that Barcelona are ‘seriously considering’ using Kessie as part of a deal for Luiz, despite the Ivory Coast star only joining the Blaugrana in the summer.
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The Verdict: Interesting
Kessie, who was labelled a ‘complete player’ by his former AC Milan manager Stefano Pioli, was linked with a move to the Midlands earlier this year.
Valued at €35m (£30.8m) by Transfermarkt, the 25-year-old has played in a variety of midfield roles for Barcelona, making 13 appearances in all competitions.
Who knows, Unai Emery and Villa may well entertain the idea of a potential swap deal involving the two midfielders despite Luiz’s new contract, so this could be one to watch heading into 2023.