David Luiz

[Duppy Conqueror 1,526]

Chelsea hit back in summer transfer battle with bid for David Luiz as Ramires says 'Yes'

EXCLUSIVE By Simon Cass

Last updated at 11:01 PM on 23rd July 2010

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich is preparing to land a significant blow in his transfer battle with Manchester City.

Not satisfied with winning the race to sign Benfica midfielder Ramires in a £20million deal, Abramovich has sanctioned a second raid on the Portuguese club for their £27m-rated defender David Luiz.

The double swoop signals a return to Chelsea's big-spending days that coincided with the Russian's arrival at Stamford Bridge, and manager Carlo Ancelotti has set about reinforcing his double-winning squad with the best of Brazil's young talent.

Take that, City: Chelsea have upped the ante in their summer transfer battle with Man City with a £27m bid for Benfica's David Luiz (L) as Ramires says 'Yes'

The extravagant transfer moves are also sure to deliver a bloody nose to Manchester City, who have also been closely tracking Ramires and Luiz.

Up to now, Sheik Mansour's billions have seen City press on unopposed during the summer transfer window, with Roberto Mancini having already splashed out more than £80m on players.

Making changes: Carlo Ancelotti wants to strengthen his title-winning side

But while City are likely to be challenging for honours this season following a major overhaul, it seems Chelsea's recent history of success has proved decisive in convincing 23-year-old Ramires that his future lies at Stamford Bridge.

Sportsmail exclusively revealed the details of Chelsea's £20m move for Ramires on Thursday.

And barring any last-minute hitches, his transfer will be finalised at the end of next week, after a holiday in his native Brazil following his exploits in the World Cup.

Ancelotti will doubtless be delighted to have got his man having searched for a central midfielder to replace Michael Ballack following his return to Bayer Leverkusen, while Deco is expected to join Brazilian side Fluminense.

Luiz, 23, is seen as a future star for Brazil having represented his country at Under 20 level. And he his already proved his class with Benfica, having been an ever-present last season as the Lisbon side won their first domestic title for five years.

Enlarge How Sportsmail lead the way on Thursday

Chelsea have firmed up their interest after losing Luiz's countryman Alex to a torn thigh muscle which will rule him out for a month. In addition, if Chelsea are successful in pulling off a deal for Ruiz, who like Ramires has attracted the interest of top clubs across Europe, then it may signal the end of Ricardo Carvalho's stay at Stamford Bridge.

Under threat: Ricardo Carvalho's Stamford Bridge days are numbered

Carvalho's former manager, Jose Mourinho, is understood to be keen for a reunion at Real Madrid. However, Rafa Benitez is eager to have the benefit of Carvalho's experience at Inter Milan as he tries to emulate Mourinho's treble winning exploits at the San Siro.

There could be a decidedly samba rhythm to Chelsea's play next season if they are also successful with a £17m move for Santos's 18-year-old striker Neymar.

Source :Daily Mail

[TrueChelseaBlue 105]

Hmmm interesting... soon be singing 'just like watching Brazil'

Literally if we get all 3 lmao

[Guest THE BEAST]

would absolutely be awesome

[Madmax 9,219]

Again, no quotes, pure speculation.

[LDN Blue 7,903]

23-years-old, not a bad player to sign. We're going a bit Brazilian aren't we? Imagine we add Kaká to that list

...Just saying

[chrismada9 1,948]

Chelsea and Manchester City are fighting a two-way battle to sign £25 million-rated Benfica defender David Luiz.

According to the Daily Star, Blues manager Carlo Ancelotti is planning to make a double swoop from the Portuguese club, as the Italian is close to signing Brazil international Ramires for £17m next week.

In addition, Ancelotti is also planning to sign Luiz, who impressed in Benfica’s Europa League defeat against Liverpool last season.

The 23-year-old defender is now Chelsea’s main target with Alex suffering from a thigh injury and the club being concerned over the long-term fitness of John Terry.

However, City are also in the mix for the Brazilian and have the money to outbid Chelsea for the star defender.

Ancelotti has not added a big signing to his Double-winning squad this summer and has seen Michael Ballack, Joe Cole and Juliano Belletti leave the club this summer.

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Source:- goal.com

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Can I ask two things....

1) why are City even going in for David Luiz when their main concern is reducing their 37-man squad to 25??

2) Do we really need this guy? And at £27 million?? We have Ivanovic, (who is comfortable at right back AND centre back) and of course Bosingwa, who will be coming back from injury soon?

[DYC. 7,542]

Please let this not be true. The reported 25-27 mil pounds is ridiculous.

[Duppy Conqueror 1,526]

Chelsea and Manchester City are fighting a two-way battle to sign £25 million-rated Benfica defender David Luiz.

According to the Daily Star, Blues manager Carlo Ancelotti is planning to make a double swoop from the Portuguese club, as the Italian is close to signing Brazil international Ramires for £17m next week.

In addition, Ancelotti is also planning to sign Luiz, who impressed in Benfica's Europa League defeat against Liverpool last season.

The 23-year-old defender is now Chelsea's main target with Alex suffering from a thigh injury and the club being concerned over the long-term fitness of John Terry.

However, City are also in the mix for the Brazilian and have the money to outbid Chelsea for the star defender.

Ancelotti has not added a big signing to his Double-winning squad this summer and has seen Michael Ballack, Joe Cole and Juliano Belletti leave the club this summer.

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Source:- goal.com

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Can I ask two things....

1) why are City even going in for David Luiz when their main concern is reducing their 37-man squad to 25??

2) Do we really need this guy? And at £27 million?? We have Ivanovic, (who is comfortable at right back AND centre back) and of course Bosingwa, who will be coming back from injury soon?

on the surface..no we don`t need him..but i`ve thought about it a bit more and maybe we do..

Bos has a year left on his contract..although it has been stated that he will be back soon,maybe the medical staff have advised Carlo that in the long term,the injury is something that may hinder Bos for the rest of his career..say for example the way Ledley King`s knees have..maybe not as bad as Ledley`s ,but bad enough for Carlo and the club to be unwilling to offer Bos an extension to his current contract and will let him become a free agent at the end of the season.

so say Carlo sees Ivanovic as the long term RB for us..(Carlo has said that in the past that Bran`s best position is CB..but he may have or could change his mind on that..)

the current starters at CB from the end of last year were Alex & JT...both players who in recent years have picked up various injuries and missed games because of them..JT will turn 30 this year and Alex has just turned 28..neither old but again..maybe due to injuries their bodies arent as "young" as their age suggests.

we have Bruma..but he is at 18, probably 2 or 3 years,maybe more, away from being ready to be a regular starter..by which time Alex will be 31 and JT 33,maybe older...also both are similar players.

so to clarify my post so far...Ivanovic moves to RB..leaving Alex & JT who miss games through injury every season in recent years and a too young to yet start on a regular basis Bruma, as our top 3 CB...Riccy is on the verge of leaving, so we wont have him to rely upon in the future..

Luiz offers something that we don`t currently have at CB ..he`s faster than JT & Alex and although Alex & JT were an impressive partnership at the end of last season..against top notch attacking teams with speed..they have and may struggle again..where as having Luiz back there could combat that..remember JT`s best performances have come when he`s partnered with a fast CB like Riccy or Gallas ....Luiz has also played at fullback for Benfica on many occasions prior to this last season, so he would add depth there too.

we could play Mancienne at CB..but i believe personally that his best position would either be at DM or RB..and despite what seems to be the general opinion..although we look set to be signing Ramires..i don`t personally see him as a DM for us.

don`t get me wrong tho..i`m not trying to say that we should definately buy Luiz...i`m just trying to point out what may be the reasons behind us going for a player like Luiz..when on the surface in defense, we appear set.

[LDN Blue 7,903]

£25million? No thanks.

[TrueChelseaBlue 105]

decent signing but not for that price

[chrismada9 1,948]

Luiz offers something that we don`t currently have at CB ..he`s faster than JT & Alex and although Alex & JT were an impressive partnership at the end of last season..against top notch attacking teams with speed..they have and may struggle again..where as having Luiz back there could combat that..remember JT`s best performances have come when he`s partnered with a fast CB like Riccy or Gallas ....Luiz has also played at fullback for Benfica on many occasions prior to this last season, so he would add depth there too.

we could play Mancienne at CB..but i believe personally that his best position would either be at DM or RB..and despite what seems to be the general opinion..although we look set to be signing Ramires..i don`t personally see him as a DM for us.

- That is actually rather interesting to point out. As you correctly say, JT only works well when he works alongside a quick pacy centreback, which is why sometimes, when he plays alongside Alex, who isn't the quickest defender in the Premier League, he struggles. If Luiz is coming in as a direct replacement for Carvalho then that's not a bad investment.

- Mancienne wants to leave, so that might not even happen, but we do have Bruma and van Aanholt as under-studies. Maybe that's why he wants to move out, because he's had to go on loan so many times with different clubs, and now there are other youngsters pushing him out of a queue to get a place. It's disappointing to know that Mancienne wants to leave because of that sole reason.

[Randall 315]

Van Aanholt is not a centre back.

[chrismada9 1,948]

Van Aanholt is not a centre back.

oh yeah of course he is, my mistake... but Sam Hutchinson is another player who can play at centreback, but also plays at right back as well

[Duppy Conqueror 1,526]

well Van Aanholt can play CB but he is better at LB...CB was his original position. we do have plenty of other young CB`s on the books that havent been mentioned yet..Danny Mills-Pappoe,Rohan Ince,Rajkovic etc..but remains to be seen wether they can make the grade or not..

Mancienne wants a chance with Chelsea foremost....i think he only wants to leave if he can`t be given that chance and i don`t think he`s demanding to start or anything..just a first team squad place,which i don`t personally blame him,he`s done all thats been asked of him. i`d give him a place in the squad,he`s a good player..but being a good player don`t mean we gotta keep him, if we feel we got better options. will soon find out i guess..

[RX8 40]

Very interesting about this posible new CB. I have to admit i have no remember see him play but if what U guys said is real them he look as a good invesment yo the future.

What I can tell U is that in the defense I have not see much of the young player except Bruma, he maight be the only posible guy ready for first team.

Mancienne has not impres me much i see him as a normal player, I do not know if this is because i had not see much of him