Why Chelsea cannot afford to lose David Luiz amidst Barcelona interest
According to a report in Spanish outlet Sport English, Spanish giants Barcelona are interested in signing David Luiz from Chelsea. The Catalans want the services of the Brazilian centre-back, whose contract will end in the summer.
As per the report, the Blues would be willing to negotiate a deal for the player before he leaves for free. Their policy will allow them to offer one more contract to the senior players, an offer that Luiz will reject (h/t Sport English).
The 31-year-old is happy under new manager Maurizio Sarri as he is getting the game time and playing well. Injuries and other problems with Antonio Conte left him in a dicey situation before the start of this season. However, he now looks a player who has regained his mojo.
With Barcelona interested, it is generally tough for a player to say no. But here is why Chelsea should keep Luiz at the club beyond this season.
Luiz and Rudiger partnership flourishing
Chelsea have made a near-perfect start to the season, winning eight of 11 league games played, drawing the other three. They are second in the table, two points behind leaders Manchester City and on par with Liverpool. Hence, it is clear that the title race is on and might be decided in the latter stages of the season.
For the Blues, the defensive partnership of David Luiz and Antonio Rudiger has flourished thus far. They have played every game together and look like a good duo. Sarri’s men have only conceded eight goals in 11 games, a testament to the solid structure this team is built on.
Any manager in the world would want his centre-back pairing to develop a strong understanding between each other. Especially when a team is looking to challenge for higher echelons, a steady defensive alliance helps the other departments to be confident as well.
Hence, Sarri must continue deploying Luiz and Rudiger in the majority of the league games. For that reason, Chelsea cannot afford to negotiate deals with Barcelona regarding a transfer.
The Brazilian is a key player for the London club at the back and is enjoying the new manager’s high-line system. Thus, he should be offered a contract extension to bring an end to all the speculations.