Barcelona prepares 35 million pound bid for Chelsea defender Luiz

London, Mar 23(ANI): Spanish giants Barcelona is planning to raid Chelsea with a 35 million pound bid for defender David Luiz.

The Catalan club has long been an aficionado of the 24-year-old Luiz, dating back to when he was impressing at Benfica, as in 2010, he was declared player of the year in the Portuguese League.

Barcelona have ear marked Luiz as a long-term replacement for Carles Puyol, who will be 34, next month, and has become gradually more injury-prone, The Daily Mail reports.

Coach Pep Guardiola has regularly been forced to turn to Javier Mascherano as a makeshift center half, and he did well there during their successful Champions League campaign last season.

Luiz joined Chelsea in January last year for 21 million pound, and is seen by Barcelona as a player whose style would suit them perfectly, especially alongside Gerard Pique. (ANI)