Chelsea make shock enquiry over loan for Juventus' Douglas Luiz as midfield injury issues begin to bite

The former Aston Villa star, who joined the Serie A club last summer in a £42 million ($52m) transfer, has faced difficulties in Italy, making just four starts across all competitions under manager Thiago Motta. Juventus, reportedly open to letting Luiz leave, are exploring potential options for his departure during the January transfer window.

According to journalist Matt Law, Chelsea approached Juventus to enquire about the conditions of a loan deal until the end of the season. However, the Blues are unwilling to agree to a high loan fee or commit to an obligation to purchase Luiz, which Juventus are currently demanding. Meanwhile, Luiz is also eager to return to the Premier League, where he enjoyed a successful spell with Villa. He remains determined to compete at the highest level, with Champions League football a priority for the 25-year-old.

The potential signing of Luiz comes as Chelsea grapple with injuries to key midfielders. Enzo Fernandez, who has been a crucial player for the team, is working towards a return against Manchester City. However, Romeo Lavia is expected to remain sidelined for a significant period, further depleting Chelsea’s options.

Chelsea coach, Enzo Maresca, while sharing an update on Fernandez and Lavia said this week: "We don't know yet how long they are going to be out. Hopefully not too long. Muscle fatigue or muscle problems (for players during the draw vs Bournemouth). We need to wait a little bit."

With Lavia out of action for the coming weeks, the urgency to strengthen the midfield has grown and hence Chelsea are pursuing Luiz to provide depth and experience in the short-term. For their next Premier League fixture they travel to Manchester to take on Pep Guardiola's City - who are rumoured to be keen to re-sign Luiz - at the Etihad on Saturday.