City 'make Luiz bid'

Benfica to consider defender offer

Last updated: 2nd July 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

City 'make Luiz bid'

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Manchester City have reportedly made a bid for Benfica's David Luiz, with the Portuguese giants taking the offer under consideration.

Portuguese newspaper Record have reported that City have offered a bid rumoured to be just over £26million for the versatile Brazilian defender, who has established himself as a key member of the squad at the Lisbon club, but he is valued at somewhere close to £30million.

With free spending City already shelling out for stars such as Jerome Boateng, Yaya Toure and David Silva this summer, they are looking to flex their considerable financial muscle further by bringing in the highly rated 23-year-old, who starred in Benfica's title winning campaign last season.

Key man

If Luiz is to be brought in, he would bring direct competition to an expensively assembled defence including Boateng, Kolo Toure, Vincent Kompany and Joleon Lescott, although he will also vie for the left-back role currently occupied by Wayne Bridge.

Having already parted with Argentina star Angel di Maria, who has moved to Real Madrid, Benfica are desperate to keep their successful squad together, but president Luis Felipe Vieira conceded that they will only sell if their valuation is met.

"David Luiz only leaves Benfica if any club pays the real value in the market," he said.

"We are not interested in the operation because he is a key man for the team and Benfica want to avoid the exit of many men to reduce our power."