Confirmation that Chelsea have failed to sign Benfica's David Luiz has led to speculation manager Carlo Ancelotti may launch a late bid for Bolton’s Gary Cahill, as he continues to search for a defender before the end of the transfer window.
A statement released by Benfica on Friday afternoon said neither party could reach an agreement in what was a proposed £26million move for the 23-year-old Brazilian.
The club said they were ‘happy’ to keep Luiz in their squad and that he never tried to ‘force’ his way to Chelsea.
Luiz was days away from moving to Stamford Bridge, so much so that a work permit had already been organised and approved pending his arrival.
While Cahill’s move to Arsenal was quashed by Arsene Wenger Wednesday when he revealed that any new signings would come as a ‘surprise’ to him.
