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Manchester United are on the brink of missing out on their dream midfield target to one of their Premier League rivals, according to the latest reports from Italy.
Having aimed to strengthen their squad this summer to restore competitiveness, United were widely expected to bring in quality reinforcements.
One of those was to be an athletic midfielder, with Douglas Luiz among those targeted.
The Brazilian has endured a torrid 2024/25 season, struggling to justify his €50 million (£43 million) switch from Aston Villa to Juventus.
After a brilliant 2023/24, where he racked up 20 goal contributions for Villa, Luiz, after taking his next step at Juve in 2025, flopped, failing to register a single goal or assist in Italy.
So, what next for Luiz?
La Gazzetta dello Sport have dropped a candid assessment of the midfielder’s situation.
The Italian outlet reaffirms Juventus’ intent to cash in on Luiz, with West Ham identified as the most determined suitor.
They highlight how the Hammers are keen to offer him a return to the Premier League, banking on getting him back to his best, as he was during his days at Villa.
Fortunately for the London Premier League outfit, Luiz is said to be open to the move, seeing a promising opportunity for regular minutes at the London Stadium.
Still, the deal is anything but straightforward. La Gazzetta claims Juventus are holding out for a €40 million (£34.5 million) fee, which West Ham and other interested clubs are not keen to pay.
Aware that their valuation may chase away suitors, the report suggests the Bianconeri could consider creative proposals.
One proposal they may consider, as per the Italian publication, would be:
“Mediators are working on structuring a costly loan (around €10 million) with a mandatory buyout of €25–30 million at the end of the season, contingent on certain objectives.”
United hijack on the cards?
West Ham seem to have laid solid groundwork for a deal, yet the door remains wide open for a United hijack.
Even with the perfect proposal obvious to them, the Hammers are reportedly still pursuing a discount on the deal.
While they dilly-dally, United could pounce on the South American midfield general should they still rate him as highly as past efforts (to sign him) suggested.
There was talk of a swap deal between United and Juventus for Jadon Sancho and Luiz, but nothing has come out of that. A loan deal could be the way forward.
Whether they decide to act on Juve’s proposed demands or submit their tempting loan proposal, United’s intervention could change the dynamics of this transfer.
The midfielder may be tempted to turn down Graham Potter’s project for the opportunity to play at The Theatre of Dreams.
A late INEOS hijack of West Ham’s move (should it materialise) could, in the eyes of many fans, be nothing short of a transfer masterstroke.
Featured image Francesco Pecoraro via Getty Images
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