Arsenal leading the race to sign Chelsea centre-back

Arsenal are leading the race to sign Chelsea centre-back David Luiz, with Arsene Wenger keen on adding another defender to the ranks, reports the Sunday Express. 

The Brazilian hasn’t made a Premier League appearance since Chelsea’s 1-0 win at Bournemouth at the end of October due to a knee injury, though Luiz appears to have fallen out of Antonio Conte’s good books. 

Indeed, the Blues could look to cash in on 30-year-old, who only returned to Stamford Bridge from PSG 18 months ago and was influential in their Premier League title win. 

However, Andreas Christensen’s emergence as the defensive lynchpin at the heart of Chelsea’s three-man defence suggests Luiz’s second spell in west London could be drawing to a close. 

Serie A champions Juventus have been credited with an interest in Luiz, though Arsenal could make a move for the defender when the transfer window reopens. 

Any deal may be complicated by Chelsea’s reluctance to sell to a Premier League rival, but that is unlikely to deter the Gunners from making an approach for the ball playing centre-back.