Chelsea hoping to solve injury crisis with £25m Benfica bid

Premier League champions Chelsea could be lining up a huge £25m bid for Benfica David Luiz, as injuries to defensive stalwarts John Terry and Alex threatens to continue the side's poor run of form.

After manager Carlo Ancelotti was just getting to grips with the news that team captain John Terry faces an indefinite spell on the sidelines, the Italian boss was rocked again last night by reports that centre-half Alex has been ruled out until the New Year, plunging the out-of-form side into a definite defensive crisis.

The defensive crisis Ancelotti finds himself in may cause the manager to decide upon a January transfer window swoop for the £25m-rated Brazilian defender David Luiz, who was also a summer transfer target for the London side, who purchased Luiz' former teammate and countryman Ramires in May.

Ancelotti may be forced to start either Dutch youngster Jeffrey Bruma or Paulo Ferreira for this weekend's tough away trip to Birmingham FC.