Chelsea turn down £35m Barca bid for David Luiz

Barcelona submitted their formal bid for the Brazilian yesterday, much to the annoyance of Blues manager Jose Mourinho, who insists that the player is not for sale.

The Catalan club have made a new central defender their priority this summer and are likely to return with further bids. They have missed out on Thiago Silva, who has signed a new contract at Paris St- Germain, and are determined to land a top target.

Luiz is happy in London and signed a five-year contract only a year ago, but the temptation to play for Barca is also great. That does not look an option this summer, however, as Chelsea insist the 26-year-old is going nowhere.

Bayern Munich were also interested in Luiz, but have been similarly rebuffed.

Mourinho has made it clear that he sees Luiz as the cornerstone of his new-look side. However, the manager is aware of the player's defensive deficiencies and has indicated he may well have to construct a new playing style that will incorporate Luiz's ability to break out from the back with the ball.

But with so many clever passers in the side Mourinho is aware that he must also be sure there is no soft under-belly to a team he is ready to lead to glory again. Speaking after his side's 2-0 pre-season victory over AC Milan, Mourinho said: "David has come back with us fantastically and we have to use his quality.

"He has big self-confidence and self-esteem, especially when he comes up from the back with the ball."

Some turnaround for the player who, 16 months ago, was mocked by TV pundit Gary Neville for playing "like he was controlled by a 10-year-old on a PlayStation".

He has proved to be a fierce competitor, scoring vital goals and last season his tackle completion rate of 84 per cent was one of the best in the Premier League - and better than any defender in Barcelona's squad, with Dani Alves closest on 79 per cent.

But that enthusiasm for winning the ball sometimes sees him guilty of careless challenges and he has been criticised for using his elbows too often. Luiz did not get his chance to show his potential against Spanish opposition last night as he missed Chelsea's final of the Guinness International Cup in Miami - against Mourinho's former club Real Madrid - because of the hamstring injury.

The problem has also ruled him out of Sunday's match against AS Roma.

But his quality is not in any question, and Barcelona are unlikely to give up the pursuit easily.

Luiz also missed the tour of the Far East because he was representing Brazil in their Confederations Cup run, and played only 30 minutes against Inter last Thursday.

He has quickly become a key figure at Chelsea, having arrived from Benfica in January 2011 for £21.5m plus midfielder Nemanja Matic.

Chelsea are keeping tabs on Porto central defender Eliaquim Mangala but are unwilling to match the £42m release clause for the France international. They are hoping, though, that a bid of £22m will persuade the Portuguese club to do business.