David Luiz was not on Antonio Conte’s original list of targets – because the Chelsea coach wasn’t aware the 29-year-old could be prised from Paris Saint-Germain.
Conte asked PSG about Marquinhos, 22, also a Brazilian, but was told it would cost north of £50million. Then, Chelsea were told that Luiz was available, and two offers later he was theirs.
Luiz’s return to Chelsea for £32m gives Conte options and the Italian coach will now look at how he can fit his transfer deadline day signing into his team.
A good relationship between Chelsea and PSG helped the transfer go through and Conte will hope it is as easy for him to slip Luiz into his team.