Chelsea transfer news: Blues launch surprise move for David Luiz two years after selling defender for £50m

Luiz is unsettled in Paris and favours a return to London, but will set the Blues back nearly £40m

David Luiz is wanted by his former club Chelsea (Getty)

Chelsea are attempting a surprise move for former defender David Luiz in a deal that could see the Blues net a £10m profit on top of re-signing the player that left the club in a record move two years ago.

Brazil defender Luiz became the most expensive defender in world football when he left Chelsea for Paris Saint-Germain in a £50m move in 2014, and the Premier League club are now looking to bring the centre-back in before the transfer window closes at 23:00 tonight.

According to the Daily Mail, PSG have rejected a £32m offer from Chelsea, but are willing to sell Luiz if a bid closer to £40m is made. The report adds that Luiz is currently unsettled in the French capital and will welcome a return to London, and any agreement between the two clubs would see the 29-year-old hold two of the three most expensive defensive transfers in history, with John Stones’s £50m move to Manchester City equalling Luiz’s previous mark.

PSG are open to selling Luiz given that they already have fellow Brazilian Marquinhos on their books, and while Chelsea have enquired about the 22-year-old centre-back, they are unlikely to follow up interest in the defender after attempting to sign him last summer.

Luiz remains a fan favourite at Chelsea after helping the club win their first ever Champions League title in 2012, although there was acceptance that PSG’s bid two years ago was too good to turn down.

The Blues failed in their pursuit of Kalidou Koulibaly and Alessio Romagnoli from Naploi and AC Milan respectively, and remain desperate to land a defender before the transfer window closes. They are expected to sign Croatia midfielder Marcelo Brozovic from Inter Milan, although the deal is not yet done after the Serie A club offered the 23-year-old an improved contract to remain at the club.