Barcelona make bid for Chelsea’s Luiz

LONDON — Barcelona have finally submitted a formal bid for Chelsea defender David Luiz.

The offer will test Jose Mourinho’s resolve to keep the 26-year-old Brazil international, who has long been linked with a move to the Nou Camp, despite Chelsea’s continued insistence that he is not for sale.

If Chelsea do eventually sell Luiz it is likely that they will turn to France international Eliaquim Mangala, but only if Porto drop their asking price of €50 million (S$84.4 million) — the release clause for the 22-year-old central defender who featured for his club in last weekend’s Emirates Cup at Arsenal.

Chelsea would want to pay no more than half that and the latest indications are that Porto might be willing to negotiate.

It is understood that Barcelona made contact with Chelsea yesterday (August 6) regarding Luiz and representatives have arrived in London to submit a bid of just under £34.5 million (S$67.7 million), reports The Daily Telegraph.

Chelsea will reject an offfer of that scale, having indicated to Bayern Munich, who had previously made an inquiry — though not a formal offer — that they would only entertain a deal of €60 million.

Barcelona know that, although Luiz is not agitating to leave Chelsea, he would like to play for them if the opportunity is presented to him.

If Luiz was to leave Stamford Bridge, he has no intention of playing for another Premier League club.

There were suggestions earlier this summer that Luiz might not fit into Mourinho’s plans but this has been strongly refuted by the new manager, and Chelsea.

The player is in the United States on Chelsea’s second pre-season tour, having missed the Far East tour because he played in the Confederations Cup, and has held talks with Mourinho over his future.

Mourinho has publicly and privately stated that there is “no chance” that he will sell Luiz, who signed a new long-term contract at Chelsea last year and has become a key figure at the club having arrived from Benfica in January 2011 for £21.5 million plus midfielder Nemanja Matic.

Barca have decided the recruitment of a central defender is a priority for them this summer and Luiz is their primary target.

It may be a saga that runs throughout the remainder of the month, especially as Barca are not prepared to go close, initially, to an offer that could tempt Chelsea, who will remain in the United States until Saturday.

Luiz, though, will miss out on the chance to help Mourinho consign former club Real Madrid to defeat after being ruled out of their match in the final of the Guinness International Cup in Miami on Thursday with a hamstring strain.

The Brazilian defender did not feature in the win over AC Milan on Sunday, having played just 30 minutes against the Italian’s cross city rivals Inter in Indianapolis last Thursday.

He did not train in Florida yesterday and is being assessed by Chelsea medical staff.

Frank Lampard, who is yet to feature in this four-match US tour which will finish in Washington DC against Roma on Saturday, faces a late fitness test on the Achilles problem which could see him miss the start of the Premier League season.

Meanwhile, Vitesse Arnhem have confirmed the signing of teenage midfielder Cristian Cuevas from Chelsea on a one-year loan deal, subject to a work permit.

The 18-year-old moved to Stamford Bridge last month from Rancagua in his homeland, but has immediately been loaned out to the Eredivisie club to gain first-team experience.

Cuevas was a member of Chile’s side at the recent Under-20 World Cup in Turkey, helping them reach the quarter-final stage.

A statement on Vitesse’s website read: “Cuevas is known as a great talent. The left-footed player can operate anywhere along the left side.” AGENCIES