Aston Villa owners target biggest takeover yet, Douglas Luiz might be key to £261m deal

Aston Villa owners Wes Edens and Nassef Sawiris aim to conclude a spectacular takeover transaction – and Douglas Luiz could be vital to their attempts.

Villa are the mothership of Edens and Sawiris’ V Sports multi-club business, which also incorporates Portuguese side Vitoria as well as affiliations with Japanese outfit Vissel Kobe among others.

They have long been interested to expand into a new market and Luiz‘s old club Vasco da Gama could now provide the perfect opportunity.

Edens and Sawiris want Vasco do Gama takeover
According to Brazilian media, Edens and Sawiris are examining the prospect of taking over historic Brazilian first division side Vasco da Gama.

The opportunity has arisen as 777 Partners, the group entangled in a futile effort to take up Everton, has been ejected by the Brazilian courts.

The Miami-based firm bought 70 per cent of the club in 2022 in a deal that valued Vasco at £261m. Edens and Sawiris would have to part with a similar sum to get a deal over the line.

That would comfortably top the £30m the two paid to buy Villa in 2018, but the club was plagued with debt at that time.

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A 1 DAY AGO Edens and Sawiris are thought to be one of three parties in negotiations to buy Vasco, who are four-time Brazilian champions and one of the country’s so-called ‘Big 12’ clubs.

Football financial analysis: Luiz could be vital to Vasco relationship

Luiz, who was one of Villa’s best performers as they qualified for the Champions League in 2023-24, began his career at Vasco.

He played 29 times in total for the club between 2016 and 2017.

One of numerous reasons Edens and Sawiris are pursuing a multi-club strategy with colonies outside of Europe is to penetrate new business markets.

And Luiz might provide the perfect opportunity for V Sports to resonate with the club post-takeover.

The 26-year-old would undoubtedly take part in collaborative marketing initiatives and could play a big role if Edens and Sawiris took Villa to Brazil on a lucrative pre-season tour, for example.