Chelsea
Chelsea Braced For €30m Barcelona Bid
Barcelona are ready to renew their interest in David Luiz and tempt Chelsea with a €30m bid as they look to bring in a replacement for Carles Puyol this summer
The January transfer window may have slammed shut but clubs will still be working hard behind the scenes at identifying targets for the summer, so we’ll bring you all the latest news, gossip and rumours. Today, Barcelona are set to renew their interest in David Luiz.
Barcelona are ready to renew their interest in David Luiz and tempt Chelsea with a €30m (£25m) offer as they look to bring in a replacement for Carles Puyol this summer, according to the Telegraph.
The Brazilian international has been long linked with a move to the Nou Camp and the Catalans failed with a £20m bid last summer, with Jose Mourinho insisting the player wasn’t for sale.
However, the La Liga giants need to sign a new central defender this summer after legend Carles Puyol confirmed on Tuesday that he’ll be leaving after 15 years at the club, and it seems they are set to renew their interest in Luiz.
The Telegraph claim that Barca will up their offer to €30m (£25m) and hope to conclude the deal before the World Cup kicks off in mid-June, and while Luiz isn’t pushing for a move, it’s understood he’d be keen on making the switch if a deal can be agreed.
But it remains to be seen whether £25m will be enough to persuade Chelsea to cash-in. Luiz may not be regarded as a first team regular anymore but he remains a hugely popular figure within the Blues squad and with the fans. Mourinho has always publicly backed the 26-year-old and insists he’s part of his future plans, so you’d think it may take a little more than £25m to twist Chelsea’s arm.
However, key to any potential sale could be what Mourinho’s plans are for Kurt Zouma. The Blues paid Saint-Etienne £12.5m for the French centre-back in January and he’s due to join up with his new team mates this summer. If Mourinho sees the 19-year-old as a part of his first team plans next season, then that could leave Luiz surplus to requirements and open the door to a move to Barcelona if the two clubs can agree a fee.
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