Willian could be on his way to Arsenal this summer, according to Sami Mokbel of the Daily Mail.
The Brazilian’s contract at Chelsea was due to expire at the end of this month, although the player has agreed a short-term extension with the Blues until the end of August which will see him play out the remainder of the season with Frank Lampard’s side.
The 31-year-old arrived in the Premier League from the Russian side Anzhi Makhachkala in August 2013 for £31.95m, having also represented Shakhtar Donetsk previously (as per Transfermarkt.co.uk). He’s been crowned an English champion twice – in 2015 under Jose Mourinho and in 2017 with Antonio Conte. But what are the chances of him making the move from the west of the capital to the north?
Speaking on the Touchline Fracas Podcast, Mokbel said: “If I was a betting man, I would put money on Willian ending up at Arsenal because all the components are in place for that. He’s already in London, his agent has very close links to the club now, so it seems like every possible aspect that has fallen into place for Willian to go there is now in situ. That deal can certainly happen.”
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Willian certainly has plenty of experience in the English top flight; he has played 228 times in the league, scoring 34 goals and providing his teammates with 37 assists (via Transfermarkt.co.uk). The Brazil international is capable of playing from either flank or in a central attacking midfield position.
This season, he has made 39 appearances for Chelsea, contributing eight goals and six assists with an average performance rating of 7.29/10 according to WhoScored.com.
Arsenal may see the opportunity to pick up a player valued at £20.25m on a free transfer as one they shouldn’t pass up, however, in our view, his wage demands could prove a stumbling point, with him reportedly on just under £140k per week at Stamford Bridge.