Former Sunderland and Manchester City striker and Sky Sports pundit Niall Quinn says that Chelsea defender David Luiz has been the signing of the season in the Premier League.

Eyebrows were certainly raised when new Blues boss Antonio Conte decided to bring the Brazilian back to Stamford Bridge last summer in a £34m deal from Paris Saint-Germain.

The centre-back had come under scrutiny for some of his questionable defensive performances during his first spell at Stamford Bridge, and supporters may have been worried that the same would happen on his return to west London – especially as he was joining a team that was low on confidence after registering a 10th-placed Premier League finish last term.

However, he has been a consistent rock at the back alongside Gary Cahill and Cesar Azpilicueta in the 3-5-2 formation Conte introduced following a 3-0 defeat to Arsenal at the Emirates in October, and the 29-year-old is on course to win the top flight title in his first campaign back in England.

While the Italian boss can take some of the credit for the transformation, Luiz must also be lauded for showing a mature approach to his personal game – something that has impressed Quinn.

The 50-year-old told Sky Sports: “For guts and bravery, I like what David Luiz has done. I love the way he became a rock again at Chelsea having been scorned by managers.

“He wanted to come back and prove his doubters wrong. I remember the Chelsea he joined were flat and despondent. They had a bad year last year and he came back into the fold. I really admire what he's done.

“In my eyes, his transformation and his performances for Chelsea this season merit mention.”

Chelsea can go a step closer to lifting the Premier League trophy when they face former boss Jose Mourinho and Manchester United at Old Trafford, as they look to maintain or increase the seven-point advantage they current hold over second-placed Tottenham Hotspur.

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