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.”

Chelsea have four days to reach an agreement with Benfica before the transfer window closes, which, on paper, is plenty of time.

However, they have been in and out of talks with the Portuguese champions for almost a month since seeing a reported £17m (€19.7m) bid rebuffed at the end of December.

They were confident enough of concluding the transfer this week to apply for a work permit for Luiz, which was granted on Wednesday.

But proof the clubs were still haggling over the finer points of the deal arrived when the defender played the whole of Benfica’s Portuguese Cup win at Rio Ave on Wednesday night.

The dispute reportedly centres on the precise make-up of the deal, with Benfica unwilling to entertain the fee being paid in instalments.

They are also said to be cool on the idea of a player-plus-cash arrangement, with Nemanja Matic — currently on loan at Vitesse Arnhem — mentioned as a possible makeweight.

Luiz, whose contract at Benfica expires in 2015, is widely regarded as one of the most promising defenders in Europe.

He arrived in Lisbon from Brazil in 2007 and was a key member of the side that last season clinched the Portuguese title for the first time in five years, missing only one of his side’s 30 league matches.

His performances earned him a call-up to the Brazil squad for August’s friendly against the United States.

He also played against Iran and Ukraine in October and is in the squad for the February 9 friendly in France.

Should the move go through before tomorrow, Luiz could be involved in Chelsea’s FA Cup fourth-round tie at Everton that same evening.

The Blues travel to Goodison Park looking to continue their recent revival following their worst run of results in the Barclays Premier League for almost 15 years.

They have now won their last three in all competitions without conceding a goal, scoring 13 times in the process.

They will face an Everton side who have been inconsistent all season but who have raised their games against the big names, losing just one of eight meetings with Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal, Manchester City, Tottenham and Liverpool this term.

Blues captain John Terry said: “Everton are in and out of form but, against the big sides, especially at home, they do tend to raise it so it is going to be a big test for us.”