Chelsea transfer news: David Luiz set to sign new contract before Europa League final vs Arsenal
The Brazilian scored in the penalty shoot-out victory over Eintracht Frankfurt to secure the Blues’ place in Baku against Arsenal
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Your support makes all the difference.David Luiz expects to extend his stay at Chelsea beyond this summer when his contract is due to expire and hopes a new deal will be announced before the Europa League final against Arsenal.
Luiz helped the Blues book their place in Baku on May 29, scoring in the penalty shoot-out win over Eintracht Frankfurt on Thursday night.
Maurizio Sarri’s side has meandered to the brink of a successful debut season with the opportunity to add silverware to a top four finish.
Should they succeed, it would set up a meeting against either Liverpool or Tottenham in the European Super Cup next season. And Luiz hinted a new deal is imminent when asked whether he intends to still be at the club.
“Yes. Yes, I think so... I can come to watch also,” Luiz remarked before laughing. "I live in this club so I can come here every single day.
“Soon everybody is going to know. It will be before (the Europa League final). Before next week... In five days.
"I love this club, my great moments in football were here. My relationship with the fans was always great since the first day here.
"I try to do my best and make them happy. We play for them, not for us."
Luiz has emerged as a vital piece in Sarri’s quest to oversee an evolution in the side’s footballing philosophy. And despite an outstanding 18-game unbeaten streak to start the season, Luiz expected the tougher periods that eventually came.
“This season we had different periods,” Luiz reflected. “I remember the first three months you guys were so excited, ‘everybody understood so quickly Sarriball, everybody is playing well and we can see Chelsea with possession’.
“After that it was, ‘oh no, nobody knows anything and Chelsea is not good enough’. I think it’s normal, especially in the first season with a new coach.”
And while the transition has been arduous, with some fans struggling to appreciate the shift in approach, Luiz is focused on Arsenal and sealing a successful season.
“Nobody I think was going to bet that we will go to the last game of the Premier League already qualified,” Luiz pointed out. “We can finish in the top three, not top four.
“We were 11 or 12 points behind Tottenham and now we are there. It’s not about how we start, it’s not about the beginning, it’s about the end.”
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