Transfer clock ticking as Blues close on Luiz

DAVID LUIZ moved a step closer to becoming a Chelsea player yesterday after Benfica went public for the first time about their negotiations with the Barclays Premier League champions.

Portuguese giants Benfica released a statement to their country’s stock exchange confirming they had received an offer, reportedly worth £26 million (€30.1m), from the Blues for their 23-year-old Brazil defender.

It read: “We have received an offer from Chelsea FC for the acquisition of sporting and economic rights of David Luiz. A negotiation process is ongoing and the market will be informed when it is completed.”