It’s no secret that Manchester City aren’t done with their summer shopping list, especially at centre back. Their latest target? Chelsea’s David Luiz, with a bid to sign the Brazilian for £30 million already being rejected by his club, which doesn’t mean Roberto Mancini is going to stop trying.
Manchester City have already made their first signing of the summer, much later than expected, by getting Jack Rodwell from Everton to bolster their midfield. Defensively, they’re still looking for another centre back after their bids to lure away Daniel Agger from Liverpool weren’t successful, with the Reds rejecting all three offers and eventually signing Agger on a long, nice extension.
The bid for Luiz is a bit of a surprise. Not because the 25 year old Brazilian isn’t a good find – He has been Chelsea’s best man in the centre of the defense since his arrival from Benfica 18 months ago, playing all 120 minutes in the Champions League final in the absence of John Terry, but because Chelsea don’t look like a club looking to offload their central defenders.
They’re actually looking to add to their defense, but maybe City assumed that such a high bid for Luiz (purchased for €25 million) will change their mind. Money doesn’t always buy everything.
City did show their problems, defensively, against Southampton in the opening match, conceding two goals, at home, from a team that is projected to be the worst in the Premier League this season. It’s only one match, but Mancini felt that despite Kompany, Hart and Lescott, he needs another impressive figure to hold down the fort. Maybe the problems don’t actually have to do with his defensive personnel but more with the tactics or something to do with the defensive midfielders, but no one is going to say you aren’t addressing your problems when you spend £30 million to patch up your defense.
Luiz has been in England since January 2011 and has played 52 matches for Chelsea, scoring 5 goals during that stretch, winning the Champions League and the FA Cup last season. He has been capped 11 times for the Brazil national football team, making his debut in 2010.