Sullivan gets creative as details emerge of discounted Douglas Luiz transfer
Douglas Luiz has emerged as a shock target for West Ham United.
Luiz, 27, has endured a miserable season in Italy, starting just three times in Serie A for Juventus as he failed to win favour over both Thiago Motta and Igor Tudor.
Brazilian midfielder Luiz is now being linked with a move away from the Allianz Stadium, just 12 months since he moved to Italy from Aston Villa for £42.35million.
West Ham are one of several clubs interested in Luiz, and an update into the saga suggests the Hammers may have the upper hand.
West Ham want Luiz on loan with obligation to buy
Following Mohammad Kudus' move to Tottenham Hotspur, the Hammers need to begin their rebuild by bringing in reinforcements.
David Sullivan will be looking for cost-effective deals, and he may have found a clever way to get Luiz in on the cheap - relatively speaking.
According to La Gazzetta Dello Sport's print edition (pg 14, 12 July), Juventus are asking for £34.5m for the Brazilian's services.
However, David Sullivan is working on a creative compromise, which is a loan deal worth £8.6m, with an obligation to buy worth between £21.6m and £25.9m.
The obligation would be based upon certain objectives being met while in East London, although the terms of the obligation are unknown.
West Ham are seeking a discount on the deal, with negotiations ongoing to get a deal done for Luiz.
Luiz would be a coup for the Hammers
The Hammers are struggling for midfield creativity ahead of the new season, with Kudus gone and Lucas Paqueta under threat of an FA ban.
Graham Potter will struggle to find a better opportunity than a deal for the Brazilian.
| Competition | Appearances | Goals | Assists |
| Premier League | 35 | 9 | 5 |
| UEFA Conference League | 12 | 0 | 4 |
Luiz shone during his final season at Aston Villa, providing double figures in goals and assists in all competitions as he led Unai Emery's side to the Champions League.
The midfielder brings experience to a very unbalanced side, having faced the same issue at the start of his Villa tenure, and would be a great addition at the London Stadium, especially for such a low fee.
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