Barcelona make big offer to Chelsea for Luiz

Barcelona want to sign Chelsea defender David Luiz, the Daily Mail has reported, and are willing to pay a £30m transfer fee in order to convince the Blues to part with the Brazil international.

The Catalans will be unsuccessful in their approach, however, and may have to return with more money on the table, the newspaper suggests. Luiz has been a Chelsea player since January 2011, moving from Benfica, and the Mailclaims he is now a key player in the side.

Barcelona will not be put off though and have identified Luiz as the long-term successor to iconic captain Carles Puyol. Luiz is said to be open to the switch to Spain, but by the same token is not against remaining at Stamford Bridge.

--> Should Luiz join Barca he would line up with international colleagues Daniel Alves and Neymar, the latter moving to Barcelona this summer from Santos. Luiz, Alves and Neymar were all part of the Brazil side that claimed the Confederations Cup on home soil earlier in the summer, beating world and European champions Spain in the tournament final.