Selling David Luiz to Chelsea Would Be a Brilliant Move for Paris Saint-Germain

Going into the new season, it was expected that David Luiz would continue to play as Thiago Silva's partner at the heart of the Paris Saint-Germain defence.

However, the move to install Unai Emery as the club's new manager cast some doubt on this, and the former Brazil international is heavily linked with a return move to Chelsea on transfer deadline day, per Sky Sports' Paul Vinnell.

This news comes as much as a shock as the original £50 million move to Paris in the summer of 2014, but it would be a deal that would be a positive move for the Ligue 1 champions.

It was felt that Laurent Blanc bowed to Thiago Silva's wishes and continued to play Luiz beside the captain, despite the very talented Marquinhos waiting in the wings.

Serge Aurier's suspension helped the club in one way. It allowed the younger Brazilian to fill in at right-back and give the 22-year-old precious playing time.

Not part of Brazil's Copa America or Olympic squads, Luiz played from the outset of PSG's pre-season, and it didn't get off to the best start.

Just 15 minutes into Emery's first game, against West Bromwich Albion, Luiz managed to bizarrely put the ball in his own net. It wasn't the ideal start, and it's unlikely it would have impressed the new boss.

Before this news, PSG were likely to go into the new campaign with four first-team centre-backs.

Silva would be the undoubted first-choice, with Luiz and Marquinhos to fight it out as his partner. Presnel Kimpembe would also take up the substitute role, something the youngster was fairly happy with when he spoke to Goal France during pre-season, per ESPN FC's Jonathan Johnson:

"

I always wanted to stay. I never wanted to leave and I have been vindicated in my choice. This year, I hope to play between 20 and 25 matches with PSG but that will depend on injuries and my performances.

It will be tough and we know who the starters are.

Competition is something good because it is what helps you develop. Their returns will force me to give even more.

[...]

The coach has shown me that he has confidence in me and I had been hoping that he would trust me.

"

Silva picked up an injury during pre-season in America, and with Marquinhos at the Olympics, young Kimpembe started the opening three league games alongside Luiz. It's no exaggeration to say the Frenchman has looked the most comfortable and capable of the two centre-backs.

As reported by ESPN's Johnson, there were suggestions in the French press that Luiz was being considered as a substitute, rather than a starter, with Marquinhos set to play a leading role in the team.

Luiz made just 19 starts in his last season for Chelsea. He made 81 appearances over four years, scored six goals and added four assists. After leaving the club, he wanted to make it clear that it wasn't a falling out with Jose Mourinho that forced him out of Stamford Bridge.

In February 2015, the Brazilian told the Sun (h/t Sky Sports): 

"

I decided to leave after the end of the season. Chelsea offered me a new contract and I said to them ‘I’m not feeling the same thing like I was feeling years ago'.

I had an amazing connection with the fans, my team-mates, everyone at the club, but I decided my cycle was finished and I wanted to live a different moment now in my life. I was not playing as much as the previous season but I played all the big games – in different positions.

People tried to make stories about me and Mourinho but we never had any history.

Many times when he doesn’t put David Luiz in, people said there was a problem, but it was natural. I was very happy in Chelsea.

"

Antonio Conte is now in charge, and if the Italian boss is looking to change to playing three at the back, Luiz could fit that style perfectly. Rather than four defenders looking to compete for two places, the PSG-man might see more of an opportunity to find minutes back in London.

Ever since his arrival in Paris, the former Benfica man has been a popular character at the club, both with players and a lot of fans, but his performances have never reached the level required.

So much of that is to do with the fee PSG paid. Spending £50 million on anyone brings pressure, and the way that Brazil were beaten 7-1 by Germany at the 2014 FIFA World Cup did him no favours.

You only have to look at this weekend's game against Monaco at the Stade Louis II. Despite a full pre-season, Luiz looked off the pace and under pressure throughout. Kimpembe was the calm head at the back, and it was confirmed when Emery took the Brazilian off the pitch.

Luiz is fine most weeks playing in Ligue 1. The opposition basically isn't good enough to cause PSG problems. However, look at performances against Monaco in the Parc des Princes last season or in the Champions League—against Chelsea and Manchester City—and the 29-year-old isn't anywhere near the level of a £50 million defender.

The change Emery made on Sunday showed the other options he has. Thomas Meunier came on and Aurier moved to centre-back. The Ivorian often played in a three-man defence for Toulouse, so it's not a position that is completely alien to him.

You would always prefer the 23-year-old to play at right-back, but with Meunier a more than capable replacement, it means that PSG would still have four players that could take up the position without Luiz. Also, you wouldn't be losing the attacking edge like they did when Marquinhos played there last season.

There are reports that the club would also look to try to bring in another defender. However, with the possibility of Thiago Motta also dropping into the defence and new signing Grzegorz Krychowiak also able to deputise at the back—as previously discussed in this column—PSG look well stocked.

Emery may be left with just three natural centre-backs, but he has another three players, in which there is cover in their positions, that can all play the role.

If Chelsea's interest is genuine—and there have been hints on Twitter that the club are keen—then PSG should seriously consider accepting any bid of around £32 million.

Spending £18 million on the Brazil international over two full seasons makes a lot more sense than what they initially forked out.

Luiz is now 29 years old, he is in no way irreplaceable for Emery and isn't even the first- or second-best defender at the club.

Already, the performances of Kimpembe this season will give the Spanish coach hope that Luiz's position at the club is not as important as previously felt. The potential and progression of both Marquinhos and the young Frenchman are reasons enough to let him leave the club on deadline day.