David Luiz: Return of the Curls

He's baaaaaaack

After last summer’s transfer window shambles in the very public and painstaking pursuit of John Stones, this summer was shaping up to be another miserable one for Chelsea’s transfer committee — whoever they may be. Not to take anything away from the excellent N’Golo Kanté or effervescent Michy Batshuayi who are fantastic additions to Chelsea’s squad.

But John Terry, Branislav Ivanovic and Gary Cahill are not getting any younger. Chelsea have very publicly been chasing a centre back and full back to give the team a boost. And yet, I did not see that deadline day deal coming. 

Last Tuesday a rumour went rampant on Twitter that Chelsea had made an audacious bid for David Luiz. Personally, I thought it too good to be true. And it was casually dismissed by the likes of The Telegraph’s Matt Law. But wanting to be the first to get information out so often comes to bite one very quickly and prolifically in one’s social media rear end.

Matt Law was well and truly proved wrong. Not only had Chelsea submitted a bid for their prodigal son but it had been accepted and Luiz was promptly put on a Eurostar to have his medical.

As much as people want to sniff at the move as one of desperation, it could conversely be considered a stroke of genius. Time will tell of course. But David Luiz wasn’t offloaded because he wasn’t valued by Chelsea. He was sold on the whim of one man (and because PSG offered an exorbitant amount of money).

Beyond being a fan favourite in his first spell with the club, Luiz was also a favourite of many at the club. None moreso than Roman Abramovich, who had envisioned Luiz as potential captain material when Terry retires. The big personality that the Brazilian boasts is the very sort of character Chelsea could have done in their dressing room last season.

Luiz also just happens to play in a position that Chelsea needed filling - at centre back. Clubs seem so set on signing a name or the best big thing without thinking about the positions that actually need some attention — see Arsenal. Chelsea needed to bolster their defence, and did just that. 

While there are concerns that he wasn’t Conte’s ‘first choice’ it doesn’t mean he’s not the best choice of defenders that were potentially available in this transfer window. Conte was looking at defenders that he’d had experience with, either managing them directly or facing them. Which, of course, makes them the easier options for him. People are always going to be comfortable with what or whom they know. If it were solely up to him, Chelsea would have Radja Nainggolan rather than Kanté. 

David Luiz may be an unknown quantity to Antonio Conte, but he's very much a known quantity to Chelsea. He has experience with the club, his teammates and the league. And not that it should really effect transfers, but he has a brilliant relationship with the fans - despite the celebration that we will never speak of again. We all know what we’re getting - a lot of entertainment. Embrace it and ignore the detractors. Last season was miserable from start to finish, however the Luiz ride takes us, at least we know it’ll be fun.

And for those of you who continue to obsess over three at the back you need to get out more, Luiz has said he's up to the task. "I started playing three at the back with Vitoria in Brazil, but it doesn’t matter where, I want to help and when I am in the team I am there to try to help. The coach is an amazing coach, he understands a lot of tactical things and I know he chooses every match the best line up, so if he needs to play three, four or two, it doesn’t matter, I am there if he wants me to play. In different positions I am available."

January transfer window - you know what to do. Juan Mata please.

jb xx