Chelsea consider shock move for £42m midfielder from rival Premier League club

Jan 22, 2026 - 20:30
Chelsea consider shock move for £42m midfielder from rival Premier League club

Chelsea are considering a surprise loan move for Douglas Luiz this month.

talkSPORT understands that Luiz would be open to a move to Stamford Bridge.

Nottingham Forest loanee Douglas Luiz
Luiz has made just five Premier League starts this season, however
Getty

Luiz moved to Nottingham Forest on loan from Juventus earlier in the summer as he sought to garner regular game time.

The 27-year-old joined Juventus from Aston Villa 18 months ago in a £42.5million deal but made just 19 league appearances, of which three were starts, for the Old Lady.

The Italian powerhouse were happy to sanction Luiz’s exit last summer with a conditional obligation to make the move permanent, though that is dependant on the player making a set number of appearances.

Luiz’s struggles for minutes at Forest

However, Luiz has struggled to break into the Forest starting XI, making just five league starts.

The Brazil international did endure a spell on the sidelines owing to a hamstring injury earlier in the season.

That said, he has made just three league starts since Sean Dyche succeeded Ange Postecoglou at the City Ground helm in October.

Forest are now considering terminating Luiz’s loan move, which would pave the way for a switch to Chelsea for the rest of the season.

The Blues eye Luiz as a good fit for Liam Rosenior’s side given the 27-year-old’s top-flight experience.

Chelsea boss Rosenior is already able to call upon Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez, Andrey Santos, Dario Essugo and Romeo Lavia in the middle of the park.

The latter pair, however, have struggled with injury issues this season, Essugo having made just three Club World Cup appearances since joining from Sporting Lisbon last year, while Lavia has featured in the league just four times.

LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 1: Romeo Lavia of Chelsea during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on November 1, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Shaun Brooks - CameraSport via Getty Images)
Lavia hasn’t completed a full game since arriving from Southampton two-and-a-half years ago
Getty

The Belgian hasn’t played since suffering a quad injury in the 2-2 draw with Qarabag in November.

As such, Chelsea are weighing up a move for Luiz in the final knockings of the January transfer window.

The west London side would face competition from Villa for Luiz, with the Villans also said to be considering a move for their former midfielder.

The Midlands side lost Boubacar Kamara to a season-ending knee injury earlier this month, which is a huge blow for Unai Emery’s men.

Chelsea perusing the centre-back market

The Blues are also eyeing up a new centre-back before the end of the month.

Rennes youngster Jeremy Jacquet is high on the club’s wishlist and reports this week suggest that Chelsea have agreed personal terms with the 20-year-old.

Liam Rosenior after Chelsea's defeat to Arsenal
Could Luiz be Rosenior’s first signing as Chelsea boss?
AFP

Chelsea are yet to negotiate a fee with the French side for the defender.

Marcos Senesi also also a rumoured target for Chelsea, though talkSPORT understands that Bournemouth will rebuff any bids for the Argentine this month.

Barcelona and Juventus have also been credited with an interest in the 28-year-old, whose current contract expires at the end of the season.

The Cherries are desperate to tie the defender to a new deal, however Senesi has turned down multiple offers to extend his stay at the Vitality Stadium.

Chelsea have won three of four games under Rosenior, beating Charlton, Brentford and Pafos, and face another London derby when they travel to Crystal Palace on Sunday.

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