Premier League Transfer Gossip: Chelsea close to a £25 million deal for David Luiz as Sunderland look for Darren Bent's replacement
Defending champions Chelsea are determined to sign David Luiz, the Benfica defender, and are reportedly prepared to meet the demanded £25 million price for the player. Benfica previously rejected a £17 million bid by the Blues for the 23 year old central
defender, however, Chelsea are all set to improve their bid in order to land the player during the winter transfer window.
Manchester City were also interested in Luiz and bid €32 million for him during the summer, however, their bid was rejected by Luis Filipe Vieira, the Benfica chairman. Since then, the young defender has been linked with the likes of Inter Milan and AC Milan,
but so far it has only been Carlo Ancelotti’s side who are chasing the player. With sources suggesting that the Portuguese outfit might be willing to sell the player after being knocked out of the Champions League, the player might be arriving at Stamford
Bridge shortly.
Luiz is arguably one of the best young centre backs in Europe; he is strong, confident while on the ball and possesses good skills in the air. He would be an appropriate signing, especially since Ricardo Carvalho joined Real Madrid in the summer leaving
John Terry without a suitable partner in defense. He is contracted to Benfica until the 2015 season, but a move to London seems likely.
Meanwhile, Sunderland are reportedly targeting AS Monaco striker Dieumerci Mbokani, after their star striker Darren Bent made a surprise move to Aston Villa on Wednesday. Mbokani is a star on the rise, displaying amazing pace,
technique and the ability to find the back of the net. He has scored 10 goals in seven appearances for Congo and has a very impressive goal tally at Standard de Liege.
The 25 year old striker joined Monaco from Liege over the summer for a fee of €6.5 million and is contracted to the side until the end of the 2014 season. However, he has not been able to continue his goal scoring form at the
French outfit and has had some disciplinary problems, and seems to be keen on a move during the January transfer window. He is valued at an estimated price of €7.5 - 10 million.