Aston Villa midfielder Douglas Luiz is reportedly set to sign a new three-year contract to extend his time at the club.
The 24-year-old will see his current deal expire next summer, and so there has been plenty of speculation over his future as he edges closer to becoming a free agent.
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With the signing of Boubacar Kamara, that could give Luiz the opportunity to play in a more favourable advanced midfield role rather than as a No.6, a position in which he has struggled at times from a defensive perspective but filled for the team with a lack of alternatives, and so he arguably has a big part to play for Steven Gerrard this season.
According to The Telegraph, Luiz is set to put pen to paper on a new three-year contract and put an end to doubts over his more immediate future at Villa, and so it remains to be seen if there is an official announcement from the club in the coming days.
Given his technical quality, passing ability and general creative class in midfield, Luiz can be a pivotal player for us moving forward as Gerrard continues to search for the ideal balance in that area of the pitch.
Following the hugely disappointing loss to Bournemouth on the opening weekend, the Villa boss could make several changes to his XI as we host Everton on Saturday, and that could involve Luiz starting in midfield.
Time will tell if news on his contract is confirmed before that, but if the Brazilian international does indeed commit his long-term future to Villa, it will be a boost not only in terms of what he brings to the team but also for him in the sense that he can fully focus on his football and remove any distractions over his future moving forward.
Competition for places is fierce in that Villa midfield though, and so if he does commit his future, he will know that he has to produce consistently at a high level in order to be in the starting line-up week in and week out with the likes of Jacob Ramsey, John McGinn, Morgan Sanson, Tim Iroegbunam and Kamara all vying for places too.