Juventus were hoping to sign Douglas Luiz by sending €20m along with Weston McKennie and Samuel Iling-Junior to Aston Villa.
That plan was scuppered when the US International, or at least those representing his interests, got a bit too greedy with his financial demands. McKennie was said to be looking for more than €4m a year after tax from Aston Villa plus a payoff worth around €2m from Juventus.
Neither club wanted to bow to the unreasonable demands, and he was therefore removed from the deal.
Replacing him is Enzo Barrenechea, a 23-year-old midfielder who has been on loan at Frosinone and returned to his parent club after relegation.
Now there’s claims from Italy that given Barrenechea isn’t considered to be as valuable as McKennie, Aston Villa will be getting more than the €20m.
Italian journalist Luca Marchetti is quoted by TuttoJuve as saying: “The negotiation between Aston Villa and Juventus for Douglas Luiz is also unblocked. The impasse generated by McKennie’s “no” to the transfer had actually created quite a few problems for Juventus. However, the two clubs, working together, found a solution.
“And the technical counterpart has now been identified in Barrenechea. If Aston Villa were to accept the balance would rise to around €25m.”
The same report reiterates earlier claims that Aston Villa actually wanted Matias Soule in the deal. Maybe that one isn’t completely dead, and it’s worth another go from the Premier League side.
