Winter 25-26 Transfer Window - hopes, speculation, rumours etc.

[VILLA MOLE]

Rumours around about Doug again on loan

[Dave P]

It’s had the Fabrizio Romano treatment so there’s at least a bit of smoke

[Tuscans]

🚨🟣🔵 Aston Villa back in active talks for Douglas Luiz after initial approach revealed last week.

Negotiations ongoing with Juventus while Chelsea are also exploring different options in midfield.

#AVFC working on Douglas Luiz return as priority with 2 more options on list.

[Tuscans]

🚨 NEW: Douglas Luiz to Aston Villa — negotiations are progressing favorably. In the last few hours, the parties have had new positive contacts.
@MatteMoretto
 

[caster troy]

I hope this doesn’t mean Tielemans is badly injured.

[PeterWithe]

Presumably we wont want to buy him on a permanent deal, and Forest have a reported obligation to buy. So what's in it for Juventus in recalling him and sending him to us on loan?

[SaddVillan]

https://onefootball.com/fr/news/how-new-signing-alisha-lehmann-is-settling-into-leicester-city-42287087

Thought this bit of news was coincidental when it was announced recently.

[cdbearsfan]

It will be. They've split up, I think.

[PeterWithe]

Yeah when Leics announced her signing, she was pictured in the article with her new fella, a footballer I'd never heard of.

[Brazilian Villain]

Nottingham Forest have made a £35m bid for Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta, but the Eagles want a £40m package and will only let the 28-year-old Frenchman leave if that price is met and they are able to bring in a replacement. Athletic.

I wound't fancy paying £40m for Mateta.

[PeterWithe]

I'd guess that Forest had a lot of success lumping it up to Chris Wood so they will pay more than anyone else for a similar kind of player.

[SaddVillan]

Apparently Forest’s loan deal contains a conditional obligation to buy clause.

Triggered by: 15 appearances of 45+ minutes in the Premier League.

Reports in January 2026 suggested the obligation was unlikely to be met due to limited playing time, with Chelsea showing interest in the midfielder.

8 Prem appearances for Forest thus far, 317' = 39.6 mins average per appearances.

[PeterWithe]

OK ta, but I think my question still stands. Are we any more likely to buy him permanently than Forest? And if not, why is it in Juventus' interest to move his loan destination?

[Monty]

We are getting the muthaflippin' band back together. We're on a mission from McGrath.

[SaddVillan]

OK ta, but I think my question still stands. Are we any more likely to buy him permanently than Forest? And if not, why is it in Juventus' interest to move his loan destination?

If he's not getting minutes at Forest, then the buy obligation won't be triggered.

Juve want him out on loan playing regularly because that will:

a) maintain his transfer value
b) tkeep him in the shop window
c) get his wages (or a share) off the books
d) trigger a transfer fee - depending on loan conditions

That's not going to happen at present.
Guessing the Dougie doesn't fancy Forest given their crap season, he can't get minutes and wants out.

Juve are keen to place him elsewhere - either on loan or permanently. His value will have dropped given what's happened at Forest, weakening their negotiating hand.

What's possible: 
a simple loan (with the aim of restoring his transfer value)
a loan with an obligation to buy - but at what price?  His value has dropped .
a straight sale - but again at what price?

Guess it all depends on Juve's need/desperation to move him out and how much/little they'd be prepared to accept - either now (as part of a loan deal) or in the summer - and that's going to be very much affected by how well his next loan goes.