Chelsea's
signing of David Luiz will give them options in defence and midfield,
according to
Sky Sports Now pundits Dean Ashton and Mario Melchiot,
but they believe he is still a liability at the back.
Luiz returned to Stamford Bridge on Transfer Deadline Day for £30m on a
three-year deal, two years after he left Chelsea to join Paris Saint-Germain
for £50m - a figure that remains a world-record fee for a defender.
The 29-year-old Brazil international has previously played in several
positions across the backline, as well as playing in defensive midfield
roles, but ex-West Ham striker Ashton told Sky Sports News HQ he would be
relishing the prospect of facing Luiz in defence in the Premier League.
"As a striker, I'd be looking forward to playing against David Luiz," said
Ashton. "I would love to play against a player that you know will have a
lapse in concentration and you can take advantage of."
Former Chelsea defender Melchiot also believes Luiz's decision-making would
come under question when playing as a central defender, but thinks the time
he has spent in France will have developed his game.
"He had moments where you would question what he was doing," Melchiot added.
"A situation would pop up where you would wonder where his mind is going.
Now I think he must be mature enough."
Chelsea manager Antonio Conte previously preferred to play a formation based
on three central defenders during his time in charge of Italy, but has
started the Premier League season with only John Terry and Gary Cahill as
his two centre-backs.
Conte has instead used two defensive midfielders - N'Golo Kante and Nemanja
Matic - to provide cover for his back four with Cesc Fabregas having to make
do with a place on the bench, but both Melchiot and Ashton have said the
signing of Luiz could see Chelsea alter their system, allowing Fabregas to
return to the starting line-up.
"Everybody knows they needed to add to the backline," said Melchiot. "They
were low on numbers, John Terry is getting older. But I think they wanted a
player that could fill both roles. One that can play in the middle and play
at the back."
Ashton added: "He's so expansive with his array of passing and he likes to
get the ball forward quickly. Having the two holding midfielders, you lack
the like of Fabregas with quality on the ball.
"Kante and Matic are great for the likes of Terry and Cahill but it (Luiz's
arrival) gives Conte a few more options if he wants to play the three."
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