With West Ham United in need of a midfielder, and with a former Premier League star eyeing up a return to England, it was inevitable this particular rumour would emerge at some point.
A rumour which went into overdrive this week.
Because, as Fabrizio Romano reports that Douglas Luiz has his heart set on a return to the Premier League, Gabby Agbonlahor is the latest to talk up a potential switch to the London Stadium for the Juventus misfit.
Struggling in Turin following his £42 million move from Agbonlahor’s beloved Aston Villa last summer, it was reported only a fortnight ago that West Ham had held talks with Juventus over a loan-to-buy deal for the Brazil international.
Reports which would be scotched pretty sharpish.
A spokesman for the West Ham United board told Hammers News in the immediate aftermath that the Douglas Luiz rumours were ‘not true’.
Though this most blunt of denials has not stopped the speculation from sizzling away just yet.
Gabby Agbonlahor talks up West Ham United move for ex-Aston Villa ace Douglas Luiz
Speaking to talkSPORT after it emerged that Douglas Luiz had not appeared for the first day of training at Juventus, Agbonlahor has not given up hope of seeing him pull on the Aston Villa shirt again.
Failing that, another claret and blue kit would suit the one-time Manchester City prospect very well too.
“I was devastated when he left Villa. [Youri] Tielemans was outstanding last season so he hasn’t been missed as much but I would love him to come back to Villa,” Agbonlahor says.
“If West Ham get that over the line, it’s an outstanding signing. He’s a top, top player.
“It hasn’t worked out for him at Juventus. He didn’t play much football last season, he hasn’t turned up for pre-season but I’m all for [a return to England] for him. West Ham, happy days.”
“West Ham need someone with a bit of class,” agrees talkSPORT breakfast host and one-time Manchester United forward Alan Brazil. “When he’s on the ball, he’s very good.”
West Ham made Club Brugge’s Raphael Onyedika their top midfield target
Gazzetta dello Sport report that Douglas Luiz was not given authorisation to skip the first day of pre-season training, meaning his time in Italy is likely to end with plenty of controversy.
It is not exactly clear why West Ham are not considering Douglas Luiz as a leading summer target.
Reports from Italy do claim that Juventus want to recoup around £35 million, however, for a man who started only three Serie A matches across 2024/25.
The man at the top of West Ham’s midfield wishlist – head of recruitment Kyle Macaulay is prioritising Raphael Onyedika of Club Brugge instead – is understood to be available for around £15 million less at this stage.
Douglas Luiz will also be 28 by the time next season ends.
While Callum Wilson looks likely to join fellow free-agent Kyle Walker-Peters at the London Stadium, West Ham are determined to spend that Mohammed Kudus windfall on younger, more long-term targets.
A 20-year-old El Hadji Malick Diouf, for instance.
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