Chelsea had bid rejected for veteran defender

Portuguese daily newspaper Record has learned that Premier League giants Chelsea made an attempt to sign Benfica defender Luisao.

Manager Jose Mourinho was looking to add another central defender to his ranks in the final days of the summer transfer window and he eventually recruited Papy Djilobodji from Nantes.

However, Record has suggested that the Special One had first attempted to sign Brazilian centre-back Luisao from Benfica.

The Blues reportedly submitted a €5 million proposal for the 34-year-old footballer, only to see the Eagles chairman Luis Felipe Vieira reject the bid.

That might have been Luisao’s final chance to join one of Europe’s top sides considering that Benfica remains his only club in Europe, having also represented Clube Atletico Juventus and Cruzeiro in native Brazil.

Luisao has spent last twelve years at Estadio da Luz, making 287 league appearances, scoring 25 goals and lifting four league trophies in the process.