Minutes after reports that Chelsea and Benfica had finally agreed terms on a deal sending 23-year-old Brazilian defender David Luiz to London come details. According to A Bola, Luiz will cost the Blues up to €25 million plus Serbian midfielder Nemanja Matic, currently on loan at Vitesse in the Dutch Eredivisie. The deal still awaits personal terms being reached between clubs and players, but after the deal seemed dead this weekend, this zombie is on the verge of being completed.
The money going to Benfica will see an initial fee of €20 million climbing to €25 million based on performance, which would be paid in 2013. In the interim, Luiz would move to Stamford Bridge, potentially slotting in next to John Terry, though both players regularly play left-center half. However, with John Terry's back problem looking chronic, Alex out and Branislav Ivanovic perhaps needed at right back, the immediate addition of Luiz should provide cover against Chelsea having to force Jeffrey Bruma back into the team.
Luiz was part of Benfica's Liga Sagres title winning side last season, the club snapping FC Porto's run of four consecutive league titles. Since last summer's World Cup, Luiz has claimed a starting spot in central defense for Brazil, often starting along side Milan's Thiago Silva in Mano Menezes' back four.