Barcelona News: Catalans Ready To Offer €40 million For Chelsea's David Luiz As Alternative To Thiago Silva, Guardiola Wanted By Blues, Reports

Barcelona are considering a move for Chelsea's David Luiz if they fail in their attempts to lure Thiago Silva to the club, according to Marca.

The Catalan giants would be willing to spend up to €40 million on the Brazilian central defender, according to the Daily Mail.

Barcelona are known to be looking to recruit a center-back this summer as a long-term replacement for Carlos Puyol, who has increasingly struggled with injuries and only made 15 league starts so far this season.

Puyol will also be turning 34 next month.

In many games coach Pep Guardio9la has been forced into deploying midfielder Javier Mascherano in the center of defense. While the Argentianian has genuinely acquitted himself adequately, the club is eager for a long-term solution.

It has been widely reported that Milan's Thiago Silva remains Barcelona's first-choice. However, it will not be easy to pries one of the Italian giants' prime assets away.

Luiz, who arrived at Stamford Bridge from Benfica in January 2011 for €24, is seen as an acceptable back-up option. Indeed, Luiz was the subject of interest from Barcelona before he made the move to London, according to Marca.

The 24-year-old has not been a unanimous hit since arriving at Chelsea, after making a number of high-profile errors. But his swashbuckling style and strong-technical ability mean that he remains highly regarded in the world game.

In other Barcelona news, Chelsea are reportedly willing to offer boss Guardiola €10 million a year, after tax, to become the new manager at Stamford Bridge.

Guardiola's contract at the Nou Camp expires at the end of the season, with the 41-year-old yet to commit to a new deal.

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich is known to have long-been an admirer of Guardiola and in particular the style of soccer he deploys. The Russian billionaire has desired his Chelsea side to play with in the same aesthetically-pleasing manner for several years and has even pursued former-Barca sporting director Txiki Begiristain, according to the Guardian.

Whether Guardiola, who has hinted that he will take a break from soccer if and when he leaves Barcelona--according to the Guardian--would opt to join Chelsea remains highly doubtful.