Barcelona have rejected two proposals to sign Chelsea defender, David Luiz, who has now turned to Real Madrid in the hope of getting a move.
According to Spanish outlet, Mundo Deportivo, Luiz has instructed his agent, Giuliano Bertolucci to find him a new club.
Bertolucci made contact with Nou Camp bosses over a proposed deal but the Barcelona officials waved away the opportunity.
The report also claimed that the LaLiga leaders did not want to sign someone who would push central defenders, Gerard Pique and Samuel Umtiti for a starting place in the heart of Ernesto Valverde’s defence.
Luiz is said to be concerned over his place in the Brazil World Cup team and that worry has sparked his transfer search.
The ex-PSG defender needs playing time to convince Brazil national headcoach, Tite that he deserves a place on the plane to Russia.
Chelsea manager, Antonio Conte is said to have had enough of the Brazilian, who hasn’t played since his disastrous performance in the 3-0 defeat at Roma.
Conte admitted this week he would sell Luiz if a replacement defender can be found.
“I was a player – I will understand if someone is worried for the World Cup. I will understand if someone is thinking in this way,” he said.
“I prefer to have players very happy to stay here than to have players that are unhappy because when you are unhappy you transfer this to the other players, to me and to my staff and I don’t like this. I like to avoid this situation.
“My task is to try to improve every single player in my squad.
“And when there is the right moment and the club ask me something about the transfer market I give my opinion.”
Meanwhile, Championship side, Sunderland on Monday confirmed the signing of Chelsea youth star, Jake Clarke-Salter.
The 20-year-old will remain on loan at the Black Cats for the remainder of the 2017-2018 campaign.
Salter featured prominently for England as they won the Fifa U20 World Cup for the first time in their history last summer, partnering Chelsea teammate of Nigerian parentage Fikayo Tomori in central defense.
”Jake is a hugely talented young player who has jumped at the opportunity to come to this club and show people what he can do,” Sunderland manager, Chris Coleman said.
“You don’t play for a club like Chelsea unless you have tremendous ability and I’m sure he will be able to demonstrate that for Sunderland,” he said.
The central defender joins Nigerian starlets, Josh Maja and Joel Asoro at Sunderland.
