Barcelona Make Bid For Chelsea Defender David Luíz

Barça Bid For Chelsea Defender Luíz

Barcelona have tabled a bid for Chelsea defender David Luíz, according to reports.

Luíz, 26, joined Chelsea for £21 million in January 2011 and was arguably the outstanding success story of Rafael Benítez's six-month reign last season.

The BBC claim Luíz is not for sale and that Barcelona's bid is thought to be cash only.

The Primera Liga champions have targeted the Brazilian as the long-term replacement for captain Carles Puyol.

Luíz has been at Chelsea for two-and-a-half-years

Puyol, 35, made only 22 appearances for the Blaugrana last season, and his absence was keenly felt in the Champions League semi-final, when Bayern Munich battered Barça 7-0 on aggregate.

Gerard Piqué was partnered by Marc Bartra, Adriano Correia and Javier Mascherano to varying degrees of success in 2012-13, as Barça's brittle defence was easily exposed.

Luíz signed a five-year contract with the Blues last year but has withdrawn from José Mourinho's squad for tonight's match against Real Madrid in Miami.

The Puyol-Piqueé partnership appears to be coming to an end

Coach Gerardo Martino was announced as Tito Vilanova's successor last month and Barcelona have also been linked with Luíz's compatriot Thiago Silva.

The pair started for Brazil during their successful Confederations Cup campaign in the close season, which culminated with the 3-0 defeat of Spain in the final.

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