David
Luiz could leave Chelsea in the January transfer window as the fall-out from
his bust-up with Antonio Conte continues, Sunday People Chief Football
Writer Steve Bates told Sunday Supplement.
Luiz and Conte were involved in an altercation following Chelsea's 3-0
defeat away at Roma in the Champions League in October, and the Brazilian
hasn't featured in the league since with Andreas Christensen lining up in
the centre of the team's defensive three while Luiz reportedly recovers from
a knee injury.
"At his press conference on Friday he was at pains to point out that this
knee injury is genuine," said Bates. "I had no reason to believe it's not.
"I think his problems at Stamford Bridge go deeper than just a knee injury.
From the start of the season there's not been an easy relationship with
Conte. He's a very demanding, highly-strung boss. Obviously, in the summer
we saw David Luiz's big pal Diego Costa shipped out of the club as well."
Christensen has impressed alongside Gary Cahill and Cesar Azpilicueta in
Luiz's absence as Chelsea have racked up six wins from eight Premier League
games since their capitulation in Rome.
And Luiz, who rejoined the club from Paris St Germain last summer, would be
a prime target for Italian champions Juventus if the rift with his manager
fails to heal.
"The pair of them (Conte and Luiz) clashed after the Roma defeat in the
Champions League and I don't think the situation has repaired itself.
Andreas Christensen is playing extremely well at the heart of Chelsea's
defence. Conte probably sees him as the future. I don't think Luiz is going
to sit around and maybe not be a regular or not be first choice having been
at the club so long.
"I know for sure that Juventus would really, really like him. Whether that
deal gets done in January I'm not sure, because they're still in the
Champions League, but I suspect Luiz is not a long-term stayer at Stamford
Bridge."
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