Chelsea transfer news: David Luiz set for medical ahead of shocking return
Brazilian centre-back David Luiz has arrived in London ahead of a return to Chelsea. The 29-year-old will have is medical at 6pm BST according to Sky Sports' Jim White. If the reports are to be believed Chelsea will be paying a total of £32 Million for Luiz. The London will play £30 Million upfront with further £2 Million as add-ons
Reports broke out on Tuesday that Chelsea have decided to bring back their former centre-back David Luiz just after two years of his exit. The Brazilian defender was sold to Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain for a massive fee of £50 Million ( This fee was a world-record fee for a defender) when Chelsea was under Jose Mourinho.
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Now Chelsea's new manager Antonio Conte has decided to bring back Luiz in order to further strengthen his defence and also his squad. The London club already have John Terry, Gary Cahill, Kurt Zouma and Matt Miazga as centre back options in the squad. However, with Kurt Zouma out till the new year, Miazga having little experience and the pair of Chaill and Terry moving towards the wrong side of the 30s, Antonio Conte desperately wanted to strengthen at the back.
The Italian manager was in search of a centre back throughout the summer but was not able to sign any. Chelsea's bids for AC Milan's Alessio Romagnoli and Napoli's Kalidou Koulibaly was rejected by the respective clubs. Antonio Conte had also tried getting a defender on loan but failed in it too.
Reports say that the Blues had enquired about the availability of Luiz' PSG teammate Marquinhos last week but the French club turned down their approach for the player. Hence the Premier League giants are forced to turn to their former defender David Luiz and get a deal done before the end of the transfer window.
Chelsea were quick in their negotiations with the French supergiants and also the player himself was interested in returning to his former club, so the discussions among the three parties were fast. The London club is expected to complete all the procedures and announce the signing of the Brazilian before the transfer window shuts.
David Luiz was criticised for conceding a penalty against AS Monaco last week in the Ligue 1 and was dubbed of by PSG manager Unai Emery. Thiago Silva and Marquinhos might be the Spanish manager's preferred centre-back pairing for this season and Luiz may have to spend a lot of time on the bench. A return to Chelsea might be a way to reignite the 29-year old's career and he could play a role for Antonio Conte's side this season.