Douglas Luiz - coming back?

[eamonn]

If Doug was happy to stay but ok with leaving due to the club's financial situation and Juve being interested, I hope we would have done all we can to prevent that happening - i.e sell Duran for £40m if that story is true.

[Keeno]

With the movement on the Duran deal this morning, it may not be done and dusted. We're about to flip Duran for double what we paid for him.

[Dogtanian]

I don't think the Duran deal impacts it, really. If we thought that was going to put the kibosh on this, then we'd have pushed that first.

The Doug deal makes a much bigger impact on the books than Duran could.

[PaulWinch again]

I don't think the Duran deal impacts it, really. If we thought that was going to put the kibosh on this, then we'd have pushed that first.

The Doug deal makes a much bigger impact on the books than Duran could.

That’s my view too, sadly. If Durán goes as well it’ll give us plenty of headroom.

[The Moose]

Where does this leave Arsenal? They have been linked with Doug forever, strange that they are just dropping out of the chase now. It doesn't look like Doug is in great demand other than Juve who are basically a step down from where we are.

[Monty]

Where does this leave Arsenal? They have been linked with Doug forever, strange that they are just dropping out of the chase now. It doesn't look like Doug is in great demand other than Juve who are basically a step down from where we are.

The player they need is one to sit deeper than Rice. Rice effectively plays in Doug's role, and that's not a position they need to spend another big wedge on.

[Dante Lavelli]

Sounds like we both need the same type of player. Let them do the research and we can swoop last minute.

Their prerogative but I’m not sure why you’d convert Rice when he’s equally adept as the defensive screen. It’s much easier to find the box-to-box player (imo).

[eamonn]

They have the Thomas who brings plenty to the partey. And that double-barrelled, blonde-headed chap that we'll continue to be linked to until the 2030s.

[Ads]

His level is miles higher than Grealish right now, it's not silly at all.

Leon last season wasn't better than Grealish in his last 3 seasons for us.  So yes, it's a downgrade.

I disagree, Bailey was my player of the season in a team that was far more successful than any Grealish played in, and he played a lot more too.

Yes massively disagree. In a better side that's not built about him specifically (remember Targett has a record of more touches than any other PL Villa player) Bailey was utterly unplayable on many occasions and unlike Jack, actually played with his legs falling off.

[Dogtanian]

His level is miles higher than Grealish right now, it's not silly at all.

Leon last season wasn't better than Grealish in his last 3 seasons for us.  So yes, it's a downgrade.

I disagree, Bailey was my player of the season in a team that was far more successful than any Grealish played in, and he played a lot more too.

Yes massively disagree. In a better side that's not built about him specifically (remember Targett has a record of more touches than any other PL Villa player) Bailey was utterly unplayable on many occasions and unlike Jack, actually played with his legs falling off.

No idea who has really been the better player for us. But the thing I always think when talking about Grealish's impact for us is that he played in four finals, but I don't think he was our best player in any of them.

Yes, we lost three of them, but still, I never felt he'd properly turned up for them. I saw the same for the England penalty shoot-out where he looked terrified in the huddle. Doug would have been ice cold.

I think if I had to choose one of them for a massive match, I'd have more confidence in Doug.

[chrisw1]

His level is miles higher than Grealish right now, it's not silly at all.

Leon last season wasn't better than Grealish in his last 3 seasons for us.  So yes, it's a downgrade.

I disagree, Bailey was my player of the season in a team that was far more successful than any Grealish played in, and he played a lot more too.

Yes massively disagree. In a better side that's not built about him specifically (remember Targett has a record of more touches than any other PL Villa player) Bailey was utterly unplayable on many occasions and unlike Jack, actually played with his legs falling off.

The revisionism on Jack is ridiculous.  But I realise he hurt people so I'll leave it.

[Olneythelonely]

Someone’s still holding a candle

[Monty]

Jack's highest level is higher than Bailey's, but if he really wanted to shine as an individual he went to he wrong club to bring it out of him.

[eamonn]

Someone’s still holding a candle

A torch at best.

[Smithy]

Jack's highest level is higher than Bailey's, but if he really wanted to shine as an individual he went to he wrong club to bring it out of him.

Indeed, it's also not contradictory to feel Jack betrayed us and burned his bridges when left, while also recognising he was brilliant for us, and our best player by quite some distance who left a pretty big hole in our side when he left.

The Grealish of today is a shadow of his former self, and best of all, I bet he knows it.