Is David Luiz another desperate signing at the end of a summer transfer window that saw Chelsea miss out on all its main targets? It’s hard to believe that he was plan A, B, or C.
I can’t help but ask myself this question after every mention of David Luiz’s name since his homecoming. Luiz plays with a passion that is sometimes positive and sometimes negative, but is always must-see television. The defender leaves it all on the pitch. With his laid-back attitude off the pitch, and his fierce temper on it, he is a fan favorite.
However, how desperate was this move?
Chelsea started the transfer window out pretty solid. Signing N’Golo Kante was a steal and will probably pan out as the best transfer of the summer across the Premier League. What he does for the team, and what they paid for his signature – it’s an absolute steal.
Michy Batshuayi is very productive. He has already shown this season that he is filled with potential and capable of meeting the high expectations set at Stamford Bridge.
After those two, deal after deal fell through. It quickly became evident that finding center-backs and a fullback would be difficult. Marcos Alonso was somewhat of a last-minute panic signing – the plan C if you will. Chelsea was throwing money at players who would predominantly feature on the bench, if not out on loan.
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David Luiz, who fell out of favor with Jose Mourinho, went to Paris Saint-Germain for an absurd sum because the Portuguese determined he lacked defensive ability.
Luiz is very good with the ball at his feet. The transfer to Ligue One made sense, given that you don’t have to defend much on a team like PSG. PSG would typically win 36 of 38 matches and dominate each one from start to end. In that environment, Luiz had no reason to expand his defensive abilities.
All of which comes back to: why David Luiz? For £38 million. Is it because Nemanja Matic and Kante are in front of him so it’s a risk worth taking? Or is Roman Abramovich simply bringing back one of his favorites that Mourinho sent packing?
