CONTE PLUGS THE BLUE GAP
Luiz gives Chelsea boss chance to use trademark line-up
The return of David Luiz to Chelsea last night will come as a huge relief, not to mention a triumph, for Antonio Conte. Not only does the Italian manager finally have a central defender who is comfortable with the ball at his feet, but Chelsea have also delivered on one of his big demands of the summer.
Conte’s list of original targets did not include the Brazilian, because he had no idea he could be prised from Paris Saint-Germain.
Instead, Chelsea asked for his team-mate Marquinhos — and were prepared to bid lavishly for him.
The 22-year- old defender is also Brazilian, but holds a european passport and is a long-time target for Manchester United. PSG would not deal, even for £50million.
So Chelsea looked towards Conte’s other targets — Leonardo Bonucci of Juventus, Kalidou Koulibaly of Napoli and even everton’s John Stones.
The season started and Chelsea won their first three games, but Conte was still missing his centre back. Then Luiz came on to his radar.
When the prospect was first mooted in the last 48 hours, it was greeted with surprise. Conte thought it would not be possible, but Chelsea pressed on. Relations between the clubs are cordial and although an original offer to PSG was rebuffed, Chelsea sensed they could make the unlikely transfer happen. So they raised their offer and got their man. Luiz, 29, left Stamford Bridge two years ago, but impressed Chelsea fans and the club’s hierarchy with how he conducted himself, even though he played twice against them in the Champions League and even scored at his old stamping ground. he won two titles with PSG, but remained close to friends in west London and regularly interacted with Chelsea fans on social media. The Parisians knew they were fighting a losing battle to keep him and the player was given permission to travel to London by eurostar and headed for his medical last night. Conte’s preferred tactical system is to play with three centre halves as he did with success at Juventus and Italy. To do this, he feels the need for a centre half who is quick, agile and comfortable in possession. Such defenders are rare. Conte could be forgiven if he was beginning to lose some faith. It has been a difficult transfer window for him without the pull of the Champi- ons League, and Chelsea are not quite the powerhouse they once were in the market.
The remarkable late swoop to sign Luiz, however, gives Conte options and proves the club are trying to deliver for him, all the way to the deadline.
It does not mean Conte will jump straight into a back three but it takes him towards it and gives him the option to play the system he prefers. In Luiz, he may have found the Bonucci keystone. From here his back four can evolve into a three, as it did at Juventus.
It was a busy day for Chelsea, who also signed Marcos Alonso from Fiorentina for £23m.
The left back, 25, has previously played in the Premier League with Bolton and Sunderland.
Alonso said: ‘I’m very happy. It’s a step up in my career and I think this is the perfect place for me to continue developing. It’s time for me to win some titles.
‘It was an easy decision for me to make when I heard the club were interested in signing me. My family and close friends know Chelsea is the club I have dreamed about playing for, so I’m really excited about the challenge and I’m looking forward to working with my new team-mates.’
Leaving Stamford Bridge is winger Juan Cuadrado, who has joined Juventus on a three-year loan. The 28-year- old spent last season in Italy, playing 40 times as Juve won the title.