Willian has admitted to the Brazilian media he is no longer in contract talks with Chelsea and is likely to leave the club at the end of his current deal.
The 31-year-old is set to become a free agent in July 2020, or at least upon the completion of the Premier League season, whenever that might be.
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Inevitably Tottenham has been tipped as a possible destination because of Willian’s ties to Jose Mourinho who was his manager during his most successful spell at Stamford Bridge, but the winger will have suitors all over Europe with Juventus and Barcelona admirers, according to The Mirror.
But Willian has said he would ignore Europe’s elite to stay in England
“Everyone knows that my contract ends now in a few months, so the renewal is really a difficult thing to happen,” he told Brazilian publication Expediente Futebol, via the Daily Mail.
“I think it will be very difficult for me to renew because Chelsea offered me two years, I asked for three and it ended there, we didn’t talk anymore, we didn’t negotiate anymore.”
He added to ESPN Brazil, via the Daily Mail: “My desire is to stay in the Premier League, but I don’t rule out playing in other leagues, no. I’ll play until the end of the season and see what happens.
“We hear the rumours, we know that we have interest from clubs, especially because I’ll be free in the market, I’ll be able to negotiate, there are no offers for now.”
Leaving Chelsea but staying in England puts Willian firmly on the path to Spurs, whether we like it or not.
I understand the lack of enthusiasm over this move but think we’d get better from the Brazilian over two years than we would Erik Lamela.
Take the personal out of it and its a good business move.