Blues bring Luiz back on board
CONTE: DESPERATE FOR DEFENSIVE REINFORCEMENTS
Injury-plagued Wilshere set to join Bournemouth on loan.
London
CJack Wilshere
helsea agreed terms with Paris Saint Germain to re-sign Brazil defender David Luiz yesterday, while Manchester City allowed four players to leave on season-long loan deals as the transfer deadline approached across Europe.
Luiz was sold by Chelsea to French side PSG for a world record fee for a defender when he joined the French club for £50 million in 2014.
But the 29-year-old centre-back was in danger of losing his place to compatriot Marquinhos this season and, with new Chelsea manager Antonio Conte desperate for defensive reinforcements, the Premier League club have agreed to bring him back to Stamford Bridge for a reported £32 million.
Chelsea had already landed Fiorentina’s former Bolton leftback Marcos Alonso for a reported £23 million earlier in the day.
The Blues also allowed Juan Cuadrado to rejoin Italian champions Juventus on a three-year loan for an annual fee of five million euros, with the option for the deal to be made permanent for €25 million.
The 28-year-old winger spent last season on loan with the Turin side.
At Eastlands, a host of players were saying their goodbyes as City boss Pep Guardiola wielded the axe.
England goalkeeper Joe Hart completed his move to Italian side Torino, French midfielder Samir Nasri joined Europa League champions Sevilla, Wilfried Bony pitched up at City’s Premier League rivals Stoke City and French centre-back Eliaquim Mangala signed for Valencia.
Mangala, 25, endured a miserable
David Luiz
two-year spell with City following his £32 million move from Porto and many of his 64 appearances were marred by costly errors.
Spending by Premier League clubs has broken through the one billion pounds (€1.17 billion euros, barrier in one window for the first time and English sides remained busy on deadline day.
Mario Balotelli and Jack Wilshere were among the other players set for pastures new.
The controversial Italian international forward joined Ligue 1’s Nice from Liverpool, the French side said on their internet site yesterday. The 26-year-old known as ‘Super Mario’, whose career has stalled over the last two years signed a permanent deal.
Arsenal midfielder Wilshere was pictured arriving at Bournemouth, who have agreed to pay a £2 million loan fee as well as his £80 000-per-week wages, after the injury-plagued 24-year-old slipped down the pecking order at the Emirates Stadium. – AFP