Chelsea ‘considering’ surprise loan move for “decisive” Brazil international as cover for Romeo Lavia

Chelsea's Romeo Lavia. (REUTERS/David Klein)

Liam Rosenior’s bright start at Chelsea rolled on in midweek with a hard-fought 1–0 Champions League win over Pafos FC, a result that keeps the Blues firmly in the mix for a top-eight finish and automatic progression to the knockout rounds.

It made it three wins from his first four matches in charge, with victories over Charlton and Brentford already banked and only a narrow EFL Cup semi-final first-leg defeat to Arsenal blotting the copybook.

Despite the early momentum, Rosenior is acutely aware that squad depth could prove decisive in the months ahead.

With the January transfer window entering its final days, Chelsea are weighing up ways to strengthen without committing to major long-term spending — and an unexpected midfield name has now entered the frame.

Chelsea are exploring the possibility of a short-term loan move for Douglas Luiz, according to The Athletic.

The Brazil international, once described as “decisive” by former Aston Villa sporting director Monchi, is currently on loan at Nottingham Forest from Juventus but has struggled to secure regular minutes.

Luiz has featured only sporadically since arriving at the City Ground last summer and is understood to be open to a change of scenery. Chelsea see him as a potential stopgap option who could add experience and control in midfield as they juggle domestic and European commitments.

The 25-year-old joined Juventus from Aston Villa in 2024 for around €50m, but his time in Turin failed to spark, prompting a subsequent loan move back to the Premier League. Injuries disrupted his rhythm earlier this season, and he has started just twice in the league since Forest’s managerial change.

Chelsea’s interest is partly driven by fitness concerns in their own squad. While Moisés Caicedo and Enzo Fernández remain key figures, both Romeo Lavia and Dário Essugo have struggled for availability, leaving Rosenior light on options during a packed schedule.

A temporary deal for Luiz would offer Chelsea experienced cover without long-term risk — and could prove a savvy late-window move if injuries continue to bite.

Barnaby Lane is a highly experienced sports writer who has written for The Times, FourFourTwo Magazine, Sports Illustrated, TalkSPORT, and Business Insider.

Over the years, he's had the pleasure of interviewing some of the biggest names in world sport, including Usain Bolt, Rafael Nadal, Christian Pulisic, and more.

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