Chelsea are considering using out-of-favour defender David Luiz as a makeweight in a deal to sign Olivier Giroud from Arsenal, reports The Daily Star.
Antonio Conte’s side have switched their focus to Giroud after talks to sign Roma striker Edin Dzeko broke down over the weekend but are struggling to get a deal over the line for the France international.
Arsenal would rather not sell Giroud to a direct rival having already watched Alexis Sanchez join Manchester United this month but Arsene Wenger knows something must give if they are to sign Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Chelsea are not willing to match Arsenal’s reported £30m valuation of the 31-year-old and are now considering using Luiz as bait to convince the Gunners into striking a deal.
Luiz has dropped down the pecking order at Chelsea since coming to blows with Conte at the end of October in the wake of their 3-0 defeat to Roma in the Champions League.
The Brazil international was heavily linked with a move to Arsenal in the build up to the January transfer window and it would certainly solve a problem area in the team.
Arsenal have been chasing Jonny Evans’ signature this month but are baulking at West Brom’s £20m valuation and signing Luiz would bolster their defensive options for the second half of the season.
Chelsea have kept a clean sheet in five of the last six matches Luiz has featured in, conceding only once during that period.
