David Luiz’s current contract with Chelsea is set to expire at the end of this season. The Brazil international Luiz struggled for form last season under Antonio Conte and there were rumours suggesting that his second stint with the Blues was due to end.
However, the 31-year-old has managed to refind his place in the first team on a regular basis this season under Maurizio Sarri. Although he was criticized for his poor performance against Tottenham last month, Luiz has otherwise formed a solid partnership with Antonio Rudiger in the heart of defence for Sarri’s side this season.
He was defensively solid last weekend during the Blues’ confidence-boosting 2-0 win against reigning Premier League champions Manchester City as he contained the likes of Raheem Sterling, Leroy Sane and Riyadh Mahrez.
The Blues have a policy whereby they only renew the contracts of players over 30 by a single season if the player has done enough to warrant an extension. Andreas Christensen does not seem to be favoured by Sarri, while Kurt Zouma is currently out on loan with Everton. Even if the Blues do opt to bring in a new quality central defender during next summer’s transfer window, they must keep Luiz for at least another season. Even if the Chelsea hierarchy find a new quality player to partner Rudiger in the heart of defence, they must keep the veteran for the time being and even possibly utilize him as a squad rotation player.
Luiz’s ability to find the odd goal as he did against City last weekend is something that is valuable and could continue to benefit the club for at least another season.
Luiz still has another two to three seasons of football left in him and has proven this season that he is still good enough to defend solidly for a top quality club in the English top-flight.
