Chelsea Enter Race to Sign Forest Flop

Chelsea Favourites for Former Juventus Midfielder

Without fail, odd transfer news concerning Chelsea FC emerges every six months like clock work. It can be linking them with a 16-year-old playing at U21 level, or a 20-year olf with just a handful of senior appearances to their name, but whatever it is, it usually doesn’t bode well for their first team.

However, over the last 24 hours, it seems that their recruitment mindset has swung dramatically the otherway, as recent rumours suggest they are now open to signing player’s who quite clearly are not the talents they once were.

🚨🇧🇷 Chelsea and Aston Villa are both considering a loan move for Douglas Luiz this window.

Genuine interest as #NFFC can let Luiz leave, go back to Juventus and join new club on loan.

Chelsea see him as option for depth in midfield, as @TheAthleticFC reported. pic.twitter.com/R7EicHS35e

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 22, 2026

The talent in question is Nottingham Forest’s Douglas Luiz, who is up for sale or loan after just five months at the City Ground.

Fork in the Road or End of the Road?

Just two seasons back, Luiz was one of the Premier League’s finest midfielders, netting 10 goals and assisting a further 10 as Aston Villa launched themselves into Champions League football for the first time since 1983.

His outrageous form subsequently earned him a move to Juventus, but it was clear from the start that the Italian top flight was not a good fit for the Brazilian - 27 games and 0 goal contributions later, he was sent back to England on a loan deal to Nottingham Forest, who harbored big ambitions after a remarkable 7th placed finish in 2025.

However, Luiz’s form encapsulated Nottingham struggles so far this season - he has played just 13 times, and only eight in the league, and has just a singular assist to show for his efforts, while his side occupy a lowly 17th, a far cry from their high-flying form of last campaign.

Luiz has received heavy criticism from the Forest fanbase, and many have already seen enough of him despite six months still remaining on his loan deal. As such, it seems likely that Forest will allow him to leave to allow them to target a younger midfielder on a permanent deal, allowing a host of clubs to open negotiations with the 27-year-old.

Any deal for the former Manchester City youngster would likely be a loan deal, with any pursuing sides likely to use the loan six month loan as a trial period, helping them to decide whether to sign him permanently come the summer.

Douglas Luiz vs Braga. #NFFC pic.twitter.com/okhrpWkyTj

— Forest France 🇫🇷🌳 (@NottmForestFRA) January 22, 2026

Though Chelsea represent an attractive project under new manager Liam Rosenior, the Blues are not the only side showing interest in Luiz, with former club Aston Villa open to bring back the midfielder enforcer to the ground where he underwent so much improvement.

But questions remain of Luiz’s ability to operate at a high level in the Premier League - at Forest, he looked fatigued and uninspired, and rarely made Sean Dyche’s side a better team.

However with such a well-known name up for grabs on the transfer market, there is always a side willing to take a chance on him, and if they end up reviving his form, it will look like a stroke of genius.