Barcelona Eye Chelsea Defender As Their Top Summer Target – Report

Barcelona are already preparing for next season and according to reports in Spain one of their main targets will be to finally secure long-term target David Luiz.

The Brazilian international has been heavily linked with a move to the Nou Camp in recent years as the Catalans are desperately looking for a centre-back with his profile, who can build the game from the back.

According to Spanish newspaper Sport, the Catalan giants are going to renew their efforts to sign Luiz, as they have earmarked the Chelsea defender as 35-year-old Carles Puyol's replacement.

Sport reports that Barcelona have already agreed terms to sign Borussia Monchengladbach goalkeeper Marc-Andre Ter Stegen, and their next moves will be to bring back loanee Rafinha from Celta Vigo and sign a box-to-box midfielder, a striker and a centre-back.

Reports in Spain claim Barcelona tried to sign Luiz last summer, after failing to secure first-choice Thiago Silva, and that they even launched a £20m bid for the former Benfica star.

Puyol may hang up his boots at the end of the season while Marc Bartra and Javier Mascherano have failed to convince Gerardo Martino they deserve a place in the centre of the defence with Gerard Pique, so the Barcelona boss is reportedly looking elsewhere.

Nevertheless, it looks unlikely that Jose Mourinho will let David Luiz leave Stamford Bridge summer as the Brazilian has recently become a pivotal player both as a midfielder and as a defender for the Portuguese boss, despite starting the season warming the bench.

Chelsea have recently signed Saint Etienne centre-back Kurt Zouma, who is currently on loan at his former club, but the French youngster has been earmarked as a replacement for John Terry rather than Luiz.