By Ifeoma Agu
LONDON (chatnewstv.com) — Chelsea are considering a surprise January move to hijack Nottingham Forest’s loan deal for Brazilian midfielder Douglas Luiz as they look to shore up their injury-hit midfield before the end of the season, according to people familiar with the matter.
The 27-year-old Juventus midfielder has struggled for consistent playing time at Forest, making just 13 appearances since arriving at the City Ground. His limited involvement has alerted Chelsea, who are exploring the possibility of a short-term loan to Stamford Bridge until the end of the campaign, the sources said, speaking on condition of anonymity because discussions are ongoing.
“Chelsea see him as someone who can come in and play immediately,” one source said. “They need experience and reliability in midfield, and Luiz fits that profile.”
Chelsea’s interest comes as the club continues talks with French side Rennes over centre-back Jeremy Jacquet, while also reassessing depth issues in central midfield. Injuries have curtailed the availability of key options, with Romeo Lavia again sidelined and summer signing Dario Essugo also missing significant time.
As a result, Luiz is viewed internally as a practical short-term solution who could provide composure and stability during a demanding phase of the season.
Luiz joined Forest on loan after leaving Juventus but has failed to establish himself as a regular starter. Injury setbacks and tactical changes have limited his role, particularly since Sean Dyche replaced Nuno Espírito Santo as Forest manager.
His peripheral status was underlined in recent matches, when he remained an unused substitute during Forest’s 2–1 win over West Ham and their scoreless draw with league leaders Arsenal.
Luiz is well known in English football, having previously played for Manchester City and Aston Villa. He built his reputation at Villa as a dependable Premier League midfielder before being sold to Juventus in 2024 for a reported £42.35 million, a transfer driven in part by Villa’s need to comply with Profit and Sustainability Rules.
At Juventus, Luiz made 27 appearances across competitions but struggled to secure a long-term starting place, prompting a return to England in search of regular football.
Chelsea believe that familiarity with the Premier League would allow Luiz to make an immediate impact with minimal adjustment. No formal offer has yet been submitted, but his situation has added an unexpected twist to the January transfer window.
“If it happens, it would be a real hijack,” another source said. “It would show how serious Chelsea are about reinforcing now, not later.”
Any deal would require agreement from Juventus and Forest, but the interest underlines Chelsea’s determination to strengthen decisively as the season enters a critical stage.
