Fresh off a history-making run in the world of darts, 18-year-old phenom Luke Littler isn’t just racking up trophies—he’s also got strong opinions on football.
And as a die-hard Manchester United fan, he’s not shy about voicing exactly who he thinks the club should be signing next.
2025 has already been a headline-filled year for Littler.
He kicked things off with a sensational win at the World Championship in Alexandra Palace, and earlier this month, he became the youngest-ever Triple Crown winner by claiming the World Matchplay title.
But while things are looking up for him personally, the same can’t be said for his beloved Red Devils.
United’s Tough Year and New Ambitions
Despite bringing in Portuguese manager Rúben Amorim, Manchester United ended the 2024/25 season in disappointment.
They recorded their worst-ever finish in the Premier League and suffered a gut-wrenching defeat to Tottenham in the Europa League final.
With the pressure on to bounce back, United have already dipped into the transfer market.
The club snapped up Matheus Cunha from Wolves and Bryan Mbeumo from Brentford—two players fans hope will inject some much-needed energy into the squad.
Littler Wants Luiz to Lead United’s Comeback
But for Littler, one key signing could change everything.
Speaking to Sky Sports, he made it clear who he thinks should be Amorim’s next big target: Douglas Luiz.
“I think the main two players that we have got, Mbeumo and Cunha—we wanted them and we’ve got them,” Littler said.
“But for myself, I think Douglas Luiz from Juventus, it would be a no-brainer.
Whether you want him sitting, whether you want him attacking, he can do it all.”
The Villa Park Wishlist Doesn’t End There
Littler wasn’t done dreaming. He floated a few more transfer ideas involving former Aston Villa players.
With rumors swirling that United winger Alejandro Garnacho might be heading to Villa, Littler cheekily suggested a swap.
“There’s rumours that Garnacho could be going to Villa, so why not take Watkins off them as well?” he joked.
“Also, Emiliano Martinez is out of contract—it would be a no-brainer.”
Social Media Isn’t Buying His Football Vision
As passionate as Littler is, not everyone was on board with his football punditry.
Fans on social media were quick to push back, with many urging the darts champion to stay in his lane.
One person wrote bluntly, “Stick to darts would be my advice.”
Another echoed the sentiment, “Stick to darts Littler lad.”
A third joked, “Good job he’s a darts player,” and a fourth quipped, “Dude’s never watched Luiz.”
Douglas Luiz’s Journey From City to Serie A
For those less familiar, Douglas Luiz is no stranger to English football.
The Brazilian midfielder originally signed for Manchester City in 2017 but didn’t make much of an impression there, largely due to work permit issues.
He ended up spending two seasons on loan at Girona, another City Football Group club in Spain.
In 2019, Luiz signed with Aston Villa, where he became a key figure, racking up over 200 appearances and scoring 22 goals.
He moved to Juventus last summer but was limited to just three starts during his debut season in Italy after struggling with injuries.
What’s Next for United—and for Littler?
As the transfer window rolls on, it’s anyone’s guess whether Amorim and United will act on any of Littler’s suggestions.
One thing’s for sure—while Littler may rule the oche, he’s more than happy to keep a foot in the football world.