Fabrizio Romano: Personal terms agreed as Man Utd rivals pushing to get deal done for Red Devils target
Manchester United remain in the market for further additions this summer as the transfer deadline approaches
Manchester United are putting the final touches on their preparations for their Premier League opener with Arsenal as they continue the work off the field to try and secure further additions.
A new midfielder and a new goalkeeper are the club’s priorities heading into the final weeks of the transfer window. The Red Devils had shown late interest in Giovanni Leoni before his move to Liverpool but a new centre-back is not viewed as priority.
The Red Devils have been handed a blow in their pursuit of highly-rated Brighton and Hove Albion gem Carlos Baleba as the Seagulls have firmly told United the midfielder is not for sale. The club made an approach to their Premier League rivals but were informed there was no intention to sell with the Old Trafford outfit due to shift their focus to other targets.
One player that has been on their radar this summer is ex-Manchester City and Aston Villa man Douglas Luiz but he now looks set for a move to United’s Premier League rivals.
Douglas Luiz agrees personal terms with Nottingham Forest
Fabrizio Romano has reported that Luiz has agreed personal terms with Nottingham Forest with the City Ground club ‘accelerating’ talks with Juventus.
Romano said on X: “Nottingham Forest have agreed personal terms with Douglas Luiz… now pushing to get the deal done soon as talks with Juventus are accelerating.”
Forest’s interest in Luiz was first reported in Italy last week while Everton and West Ham United have also shown an interest alongside the Red Devils. Last month, Luiz was touted for a possible swap deal with Jadon Sancho going the other way but the ex-Borussia Dortmund man is now being eyed by AS Roma.
Luiz impressed during his time in the Premier League with Aston Villa and could have proven a decent short-term alternative for Baleba, with the Red Devils poised to try again for the Brighton player next summer.
Why Douglas Luiz is set for Juventus exit
The 27-year-old first was brought to England by Manchester City in 2017 but never made a senior appearance for the side. He spent two season on loan at Spanish side Girona, who are also owned by City Football Group after he was initially not granted a work permit to play in England.
He would then join Villa and spent five years in Birmingham.
His performances with Villa earned him a £42.5m switch to Juve last summer but it has not gone to plan for the Brazilian in Italy. He came off the bench in just one of the club’s games at the Club World Cup and did not feature in their other three games.
He only made 19 appearances in Serie A, totalling 516 minutes. A return to the Premier League could be just what he needs to avoid his career from petering out. Last month he failed to show up for the first week of pre-season training, indicating his time with the Old Lady was all-but done.