Eastlands boss ready to cement deal to sign Benfica defender.
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Manchester City have started talks with Benfica for David Luiz and plan to beat out Real Madrid by offering £25million for the young defender.
The 23-year-old played a major role in Benfica’s Portuguese Liga title triumph, and although the Brazilian was expected to move to Spain in the summer, City are looking to swoop in and sign Luiz, according to the Daily Mail.
City boss Roberto Mancini scouted Luiz a couple of times during the season and was especially pleased with the defender’s performance against Liverpool in the last eight of the Europa League.
Chelsea and Manchester United are also interested in the young star, but City’s willingness to spend could be the difference.
Luiz would like to move to an elite club in the summer and Benfica are hoping to sell the Brazilian at a price that approaches his buy-out clause of £43m, but it is believed that the two sides can agree to a deal in the neighborhood of £25m. (Goal.com)
Roberto Mancini is clearly keen on bringing in players he feels can propel Manchester City back into the top four race and whilst he may feel that he needs to bring in new defensive options is a move for Benfica centre back David Luiz a good idea?
Yes the 23 year old has a good season and helped his Portuguese side to the domestic title but at the same time the former Vitoria man hasn’t won a single Brazilian international cap so is he ready to make the rather large jump from the frankly average Portuguese Liga to the upper echelons of the Premier League.
The Eastlands boss is reportedly not too keen on some of the defenders he inherited and could be ready to offload Micah Richards, Nedum Onouha and supposedly Joleon Lescott as well. Man City conceded 45 goals last term which is significantly more than any other top seven side.
This appears to be a case of a side, Benfica, looking to get as much money as possible from a club they know has limitless pockets. It would be wise for Mancini to look to sign players who have already plied their trade in a top four league (Bundesliga, Serie A, La Liga or Premier League) as to risk such a hefty fee on a player with no experience of these top tiers or indeed international football would be dangerous to say the least.