Paul Merson has suggested that Douglas Luiz has been up there with Manchester City star Rodri this season in terms of Premier League midfielders.
Luiz has enjoyed an excellent campaign so far with Aston Villa, who have been a real surprise package this term.
At the moment, Unai Emery has them challenging at the top of the table, with Villa just three points off the top.
Key to their lofty position has been Douglas Luiz, who has started every single league game so far bar one which he was suspended for.
The 25-year-old, who joined Villa from City back in 2019, has earned a lot of plaudits this season – and Paul Merson reckons he is one of the most underrated players in the whole Premier League at this point…
Paul Merson places Douglas Luiz up there with Manchester City star Rodri this season
Merson has been reflecting on the current season, and offered the names of five players he believes the be the most underrated in the division.
In his eyes, Luiz is one of the best right now and is someone who has been ‘absolutely ripping it up’.
Merson reckons Luiz has been so good that he’s up there with Rodri, whom many consider the league’s best holding midfielder.
Merson told Sportskeeda: “Douglas Luiz is an established campaigner, so I’m putting him at #5. When Arsenal wanted to sign him a year ago, but people didn’t really rate him too highly but now, everyone can see what he’s all about as he’s been absolutely ripping it up for Aston Villa this season.
“He can sit as a holding midfielder and mop things up for his team but he also gets in the box and scores goals – as we’ve seen so often this season. He’s quite well-rounded and still very underrated, but in the 2023-24 campaign, he has started getting his fair share of recognition.
“People wouldn’t put him in the same breath as Declan Rice or Rodri, but based on their performances this season, I’d certainly put Luiz up there with the pair. With Casemiro and Fabinho past their best in recent seasons, the ex-Manchester City midfielder could also become a key player for Brazil in the years ahead.”
City-linked Luiz looks a top player
There is little doubt that Luiz has been one of the best midfielders in the Premier League this season.
He has been absolutely essential to Villa’s great form, along with fellow midfielder John McGinn.
It is really nice to see him thriving, considering he could not get a work permit at City to allow him to play for the first-team. Pep Guardiola never wanted him to leave, but there was ultimately no real choice but for the club to sell him.
In recent times, City have actually been linked with re-signing Luiz.
Who knows if the £75,000-a-week star will wind up back at the Etihad, but if it happened then many City fans would definitely back him to succeed.
