Soccer

Chelsea’s David Luiz nearing €62m move to PSG

Brazilian defender’s sale will free up funds for Blues move for Atletico Madrid striker Diego Costa

Chelsea’s David Luiz looks to be on his way to PSG. Photograph: Kerim Okten / EPA
Chelsea’s David Luiz looks to be on his way to PSG. Photograph: Kerim Okten / EPA
Fri May 23 2014 - 18:46

Chelsea defender David Luiz was on Friday night on the verge of a €62 million (£50m) move to Paris St Germain as uncertainty continued to surround the future of record goalscorer Frank Lampard.

Luiz’s departure after three-and-a-half seasons at Stamford Bridge is close, with PSG in advanced negotiations after appearing to beat Barcelona and Bayern Munich to his signature.

The 27-year-old joined Chelsea from Benfica in January 2011 and has two years remaining on his five-and-a-half-year deal. Luiz has made 143 appearances, 34 of them last season, scoring 12 goals.

Luiz was primarily used in defensive midfield by Jose Mourinho after being unable to break up the central defensive partnership of John Terry and Gary Cahill.

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Luiz, who would join fellow centre-back and Brazilian captain Thiago Silva at PSG, has two years remaining on the deal signed when he moved to Stamford Bridge and his likely sale represents a healthy profit.

The funds would be used to reinvest in the squad, with Atletico Madrid striker Diego Costa reportedly the number one target.

Meanwhile, Lampard, who is 36 in June, appeared on the Premier League’s list of released players alongside striker Samuel Eto’o and left-back Ashley Cole as their contracts expire on June 30th.

Lampard’s appearance on the list does not mean his departure is inevitable, although Chelsea are still to clarify if the midfielder, who moved to Stamford Bridge in June 2001, will stay or move on. Cole has confirmed he is to leave Chelsea, while Eto’o is poised to move on at the end of his one-season deal.

Lampard has scored a club record 209 Chelsea goals in 646 appearances since his switch from West Ham, including the two goals at Bolton which secured the 2004/2005 Premier League title.

That was Chelsea’s first championship for 50 years and began the most successful period in the club’s history. Eto’o netted 12 times in 35 appearances last term following his move from Anzhi Makhachkala. Cole has hinted his future lies away from Stamford Bridge after eight years after falling down the pecking order this term.

The former Arsenal left-back, who retired from England duty after winning 107 caps but being overlooked for the World Cup squad, has been linked with moves abroad and to Manchester United and Liverpool.

Goalkeepers Mark Schwarzer and Henrique Hilario also appear on the list — a Premier League requirement — alongside youngsters Sam Hutchinson and Milan Lalkovic.