Manchester City are beating Chelsea in the race to land Benfica’s £27 million-rated Brazilian centre half David Luiz.
City are willing to outbid the double winners in the chase for the curly-haired defender who is now a priority signing for both of the Premier League giants.
Luiz has been lined up by Chelsea as a replacement for Real Madrid new boy Ricardo Carvalho, but City believes they will win the race - even if it means paying over the odds for a player yet again.
Coach Roberto Mancini wants Luiz signed quickly to let him sort out his defence and then push out some well-known faces when he trims his squad to 25 for the Premier League rules.
City already have a handful of top centre halves but Mancini believes Luiz, who also plays left back, is the answer and negotiations are at an advanced stage.
Luiz’s signing would push the likes of Vincent Kompany and Joleon Lescott down the pecking order as Mancini and his team put the squeeze on Mark Hughes’s signings.
The news that City have stepped up their bid will be a blow for Chelsea who have seen the Arab-backed outfit move ahead of them in the signing stakes - with this a potentially major reminder of that wealth.
Luiz will have City’s promise to weigh up against Chelsea’s status, but both the player and his handlers - who are used to dealing with both clubs - could go where the money is instead.
Both City and Chelsea hope to make progress on their moves over the weekend, with Luiz back from international duty with Brazil in America.
It is also an extraordinary fee for a player who has barely got into the Brazil side but most experts tip him as a star of the next decade.
City are willing to outbid the double winners in the chase for the curly-haired defender who is now a priority signing for both of the Premier League giants.
Luiz has been lined up by Chelsea as a replacement for Real Madrid new boy Ricardo Carvalho, but City believes they will win the race - even if it means paying over the odds for a player yet again.
Coach Roberto Mancini wants Luiz signed quickly to let him sort out his defence and then push out some well-known faces when he trims his squad to 25 for the Premier League rules.
City already have a handful of top centre halves but Mancini believes Luiz, who also plays left back, is the answer and negotiations are at an advanced stage.
Luiz’s signing would push the likes of Vincent Kompany and Joleon Lescott down the pecking order as Mancini and his team put the squeeze on Mark Hughes’s signings.
The news that City have stepped up their bid will be a blow for Chelsea who have seen the Arab-backed outfit move ahead of them in the signing stakes - with this a potentially major reminder of that wealth.
Luiz will have City’s promise to weigh up against Chelsea’s status, but both the player and his handlers - who are used to dealing with both clubs - could go where the money is instead.
Both City and Chelsea hope to make progress on their moves over the weekend, with Luiz back from international duty with Brazil in America.
It is also an extraordinary fee for a player who has barely got into the Brazil side but most experts tip him as a star of the next decade.
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