Chelsea Transfer News: Blues Are Wise to Reject Barca's Bid for David Luiz

Chelsea were completely right to dismiss Barcelona’s £35 million bid for David Luiz, as Sami Mokbel reports on Mail Online, as the versatile Brazilian is central to Jose Mourinho’s plans of bringing the Premier League trophy back to London.

“The bid? It's lost time for them,” said Mourinho, per Mail Online.

“My advice to them is to go to the second player on their list because they are wasting their time. We don't want to lose our best players. No chance.”

Luiz’s game continues to be littered with needless errors, but as last season wore on he produced moments of real quality, especially when utilised in midfield under interim boss Rafa Benitez.

Remember his 35-yard swerving shot to beat Fulham’s Mark Schwarzer in the West London derby, or his clever free-kick to secure late Europa League victory in Basle?

Yes, he has to improve defensively—if Chelsea are going to launch a serious title challenge with Luiz in their back line, the mistakes must be eradicated—but Mourinho is the man to bring about the change.

While Luiz might not get the nod at the back on a regular basis, he’s far more effective in Chelsea’s sitting-midfield duo than John Obi Mikel or Michael Essien.

Mikel barely offers anything going forward, albeit his strengths lie elsewhere, and Essien is not the same dynamic player Chelsea signed back in 2005 due to a series of injuries.

That leaves Luiz battling it out with Frank Lampard and Ramires.

Incredibly, Lampard was Chelsea’s top goalscorer in the Premier League last season, but his age tag of 35 leaves Mourinho with little option but to carefully manage the England midfielder.

Luiz’s creativity then gives him the edge over Ramires. Although Ramires is a tireless box-to-box runner, his fellow Brazilian is a match-winner and is capable of unlocking a defence should the rotating trio of Juan Mata, Eden Hazard and Oscar struggle.

Mourinho recognises Luiz’s need to improve, but he’s been talking up the 26-year-old in preseason, according to The Guardian's Steve Brenner:

"

David has come back with us fantastically and we have to use his quality.

He has big self-confidence and self-esteem, especially when he comes up from the back with the ball.

Can he improve defensively? Of course. But it is my job to try always to improve players.

"

If Mourinho is smart, he will encourage Luiz to attempt the tricks, dribbles and raking passes he is renowned for—and merely remind him not to do it when he’s all alone at the back.

Luiz is now an integral part of the Chelsea side, a player whose reputation continues to rise, and Chelsea should resist further advances from Barcelona or any other European giant.

He is far from the finished article, but his flair, vision and healthy supply of wonder goals mean he can help Chelsea usurp the Manchester clubs at the top of the Premier League.