Chelsea centre-back David Luiz looks set to complete a big money move to Ligue One PSG
Mega-rich French outfit PSG have agreed a deal with Chelsea to sign Brazilian centre-back David Luiz.
The fee could rise to as much as £50million and looks like it could prove to be a very lucrative one indeed for the Blues.
Luiz is currently away with the Brazil national team preparing for the start of the World Cup. PSG have sent a doctor to the Brazilian camp to conduct a medical with the 27-year-old.
Confirmation
A statement on the Chelsea’s official website read: “Chelsea Football Club and Paris Saint Germain have agreed terms for the transfer of David Luiz to the French club.
“The move is now subject to David Luiz agreeing personal terms with PSG and passing a medical examination.”
Talented
There is no question that David Luiz has talent, but what is in question is whether he is a centre-back or should be deployed further up the field. The Brazilian has the ability to go forward with the ball and go past players.
However, that is not the first attribute you look for from a centre-back. At times his marauding runs can expose his team and leave the defence wide open. Some would say that he is liability playing at centre-back, but I would not go that far. He is also slightly prone to lapses in concentration.
Frustrated
For much of last season David Luiz was left to kick his heels on the Chelsea bench. He started just 15 games for the Blues, with many of those appearances coming playing in a defensive midfield role. John Terry and Gary Cahill established a solid partnership and Chelsea went on to have the best defensive record in the top-flight.
The Blues also have Branislav Ivanovic that can play at centre-back, with talented youngster Tomas Kalas also waiting for another crack in the first team. David Luiz really is a commodity that Chelsea could not afford to have sitting on the bench.
Fee
The potential fee is a massive one for a player that Chelsea paid Benfica £23.5million for three years ago. The sale would mean that Chelsea have doubled their money on a player that was not even in boss Jose Mourinho’s plans, which is quite incredible.
FFP
Mourinho and Chelsea knew that they had to sell a big player this summer to buy the striker that the team needs if they were to meet the financial fair play rules.
That meant somebody had to be sacrificed and I do believe that most Chelsea fans would prefer to sell Luiz than talented winger Eden Hazard. The Belgium winger had also been linked with a big money move to PSG, but hopefully for Chelsea’s fans sake this will not happen.
Strengthening
Chelsea looks set to complete the signing of Atletico Madrid striker Diego Costa, who is believed to have a buy-out clause in his Atleti contract of £32million. Even if the only business that Chelsea did this summer was selling David Luiz and signing Diego Costa, I would say it has been a successful summer for the Blues.
Mourinho has been a master in the past of knowing which parts of his team have weaknesses and bringing in exactly the right player to strengthen those weaknesses. As we all know the striker position at Chelsea is currently regarded as one of their weaknesses.
Strikers
Strikers Fernando Torres, Samuel Eto’o and Demba Ba have produced a very measly goals return this season. Eto’o looks set to leave Stamford Bridge this summer when his contract expires, while Torres’ Chelsea future has also been debated.
Demba Ba has recently stated in the media that Jose Mourinho wants to keep him in his current role, which apparently the striker is happy with. The Senegalese striker has spent much of the campaign on the Blues substitute bench.
Belgium youngster Romelu Lukaku could return to the Chelsea first team squad after a successful season on-loan at Everton. It really would not surprise me if Mourinho sold the highly-rated Lukaku this summer and used the money to bring in another striker.
Shrewd
Chelsea have not always been the most shrewd in the transfer market in recent years, but to sell to sell David Luiz for a potential fee of £50million is one of the most shrewd deals we will see this summer.
Jose Mourinho will get exactly what he wants this summer, a new striker and a player that he did not seem to rate out of his squad. I suggest the loss of David Luiz will have a minimal effect on the Chelsea team next season and Chelsea will return with a stronger squad next season.
Was selling David Luiz good business for Chelsea?
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